THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Aug. 13, 2014

Things can't stay the same forever.

When it comes to American Legion baseball, that might be the case now more than ever.

NOT SO long ago, there was five programs in the Class AA North Idaho League American Legion, with teams from Prairie, Coeur d'Alene and Lewis-Clark being joined by Trail and Cranbrook from British Columbia.

For budget reasons, the two Canadian teams dropped from the league two years ago.

This year, with two bids to state coming from the area - and one guaranteed to state tournament host Lewis-Clark - both the L-C Twins and Prairie Cardinals advanced to state.

That left Coeur d'Alene, which had advanced to the state AA tournament for 10 straight seasons, staying home from the tournament.

Coeur d'Alene will get another shot next year as the 2015 state tournament is slated for Thorco Field in Coeur d'Alene.

Legion baseball used to have the best of the best playing on the same field, whether that be Lake City and Coeur d'Alene High athletes making up the Lumbermen, Post Falls, Lakeland and Timberlake making up the Prairie Cardinals, or even Wallace and Kellogg playing on the Single-A Silver Valley team.

With the growth of club teams, you often times don't see the best players from each school continuing summer baseball with that program.

Whether that be the Spokane Dodgers or Spokane Expos, often times a few players from area schools were going up against high school teammates.

AND I understand that those club teams, while not Legion associated, play in more exposure tournaments and get the kids noticed by college scouts, with the hopes of continuing playing after high school is over.

At the same time, taking away from those programs that have been around for long time.

In the Silver Valley, players have been in a co-op for the last two years, yet haven't had enough to field a summer legion team. If players want to continue playing during the summer months, they've got the option to play in St. Maries, but few actually do.

There was a time when the Silver Valley was competitive with some of those AA teams, and now, nothing.

For years, the grass at Morehouse Field from spring to summer was always the best maintained patch of land for the baseball at Wallace High and the Silver Valley program.

Looking at it now, with grass growing on the infield and looking rough, it makes me wonder if a program will ever get going there again.

Baseball is supposed to be game that lasts all summer, right before football starts.

Summer vacations, while I get should include camping, vacations and relaxing for most athletes, should also involve dedicating some time to staying active.

Instead of watching other teams get better right in front of you.

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 jelliott@cdapress.com.