Respectful and respected among peers

COEUR d’ALENE — There’s leading by example, and then there’s leading the way of a pack of Lake City Timberwolves senior baseball players.

One by effort in the outfield, another by effort in the classroom, one in the weight room and another in any other way it needs to get done.

It took so much depth in the infield to send Tanner Criswell to the outfield, where he’s made a habit of catching anything and everything he can get a glove on.

“I definitely enjoy the outfield the most,” said Criswell, who also pitches. “Last year, it was my first year of playing in the outfield. In my first seven, eight, or nine years, I played in the infield. With the seniors we’ve got now, and with the guys we had last year, I didn’t have a spot and that was the main reason I went to the outfield. I was all about trying that out and experiencing new things. It really showed that outfield is where I should have been. I’m a quick guy that has obnoxious movement at times, and spontaneous things going on. Tracking down fly balls kind of gives me a rush when I’m out there. When I’m tracking a ball in the gap that’s hit super hard, nobody thinks I can get to the ball. When I do, it gives me fuel to keep going.”

Dominic Conigliaro, a left-handed pitcher and first baseman, is the school’s ASB treasurer.

“I just wanted to get more involved with the school somehow,” said Conigliaro of his venture into student government. “I’ve always heard to get more involved, and do what you can and that will make school better. As a freshman, I was good friends with Casey Stangel (a star Lake City softball player, and a senior at the time), and she was ASB secretary at the time, and she strongly encouraged me to do that. I got a chance to see her plan activities for the ‘Fish’ game and that type of stuff. I thought that was something I wanted to be a part of down the road.”

It could also lead to a future career.

“Maybe, I’ve considered it a little bit and want to go into law school,” Conigliaro said. “So that could be a good lead into politics.”

Then there’s Cody Garza and Jarred Hall — both infielders and pitchers — who as luck might have it, will continue their playing careers at Yakima Valley Community College next year.

“We kind of made our decisions separately,” said Garza of the decision to continue at the same school. “But together made it better. We both liked the school equally.”

The two visited campus at the same time.

“At first, we both liked Walla Walla a little bit, but that was the previous school we’d been to,” Garza said. “When we got to Yakima, it was like, ‘hey, I like this one a little more.’”

The two also plan to room together at Yakima.

“It make the whole transition a little easier knowing that at least we’ll have each other and be rooming together,” Garza said.

For the foursome, the love of the game started, where else? Playing in the yard with their fathers.

“He pushed me to play sports early on,” said Criswell of his father, Mike, who is an assistant coach at Lake City. “At first, I really didn’t like any of them. But through a couple of years and into second and third grade, I started to get into baseball more and started to drop other sports to play it. He’s been my coach since I’ve been in T-ball. Having them there helped me a lot. His encouragement not only helped me want to push further into my baseball career, but kind of bettered myself.”

Conigliaro’s father, Marcello, is a Realtor with Northwest Realty Group.

“He’s been a huge influence on me, really since Day 1,” Dominic said. “We started playing catch in the back yard, and it’s grown to him catching my bullpen and him sitting on a bucket while I threw to him. It’s really just him raising me to the person I’ve become.”

Garza’s dad, Justin, is also a coach at Lake City.

“My dad grew up playing baseball his entire life and even played a little college ball,” Garza said. “He got me into it when I was young and I just kind of stuck it out and always thought that’s something I’d like to try to do and go to college for.”

And while Hall didn’t get the experience of playing with the group in Little League — he transferred from Sandpoint prior to his freshman year — he’s right in step with all of the others on and off the field.

“I’ve always loved baseball, ever since I was little,” Hall said. “My dad taught the game to me when we lived in Sandpoint and I’ve been playing it ever since.”

And though he didn’t know the players like he does now, Hall still was well aware of them.

“It’s been pretty cool,” Hall said. “When I lived in Sandpoint, I looked up to the people from Coeur d’Alene and enjoyed playing against them, as well as getting the chance to play with them today. This group pushes me ever single day. There’s not one day where I haven’t learned something new from them. Whether it’s been in the infield, hitting or pitching, it’s been awesome. We’ll have team dinners all the time and during the summer, we’ll hang out and each other’s houses and play ping pong and watch movies.”

As far as who’s the best at ping pong, that goes to Conigliaro, in Hall’s opinion.

“It’s definitely Dom,” Hall said. “He’s a lefty and puts a weird spin on the ball. I don’t know what it is, but he’s pretty good.”

Three of the four — Conigliaro, Hall and Garza — will continue their playing careers at college level next year. Criswell has offers, but is likely to further his education at Boise State in the fall.

“I’ve still got the opportunity to play still,” said Criswell, who wants to pursue dentistry in college. “But I don’t have the drive I don’t think to play college baseball. There’s a big difference, I think, between college and high school, and playing in high school is where I’m at. I’m a little more fun, free-living. And if I went to college to play baseball, I think I’d be miserable with the hard, structured lifestyle that they have.”

Conigliaro will play at Lewis and Clark College in Portland next year, where he wants to pursue a degree in environmental science, and eventually go to law school.

“I thought it was a good fit, both academically and athletically,” Conigliaro said. “It’s a program I can go in and contribute right away. It’s a good campus and they’ve got an awesome criminal science program. Being in Portland, there’s also a lot of good opportunities for internships and that type of thing.”

“They’re a loose group, but they’re serious when they need to be,” first-year Lake City coach Paul Manzardo said. “They don’t sweat the small stuff. When we were getting on the bus to head to Kennewick to start the season, Dom was energetic and was getting everyone going. They’re just good, genuine boys and all our of their parents did a great job with all those boys. They’re always at other activities with the other boys. They’re the ringleaders and get everyone else involved. That’s what I want from the boys in the future, and they’re setting the foundation.”

Garza wants to become a physical therapist, while Hall intends to study to become a physician’s assistant.

On the baseball field, they’re not too shabby either, entering today’s 5A Inland Empire League doubleheader against visiting Post Falls with a 7-4 overall record, 1-1 in the 5A Inland Empire League.

“This year looks like a pretty decent year for us,” Garza said. “We’re kind of tough on the junior class with only two on the roster this year. But we’ve got great senior leadership, especially coming from the four of us. We’ve been playing together for years and we’re best friends. I think a few of the sophomores we’ve got can be good for us in the future as well.”

Last season, Lake City advanced to the state 5A baseball tournament for the first time since 2008, going 1-2, losing in the consolation championship game.

“We hit the gym pretty hard during the offseason,” Garza said. “Last year, it was kind of an eye-opening experience because we were just pleased to get there. And we didn’t know what to do after that. It had been a while since we’d advanced, so this year, we want to produce down there.”

Lake City beat Coeur d’Alene once during the regular season in 2015, the first time they’d beat the Vikings since 2008.

It also led to one of Criswell’s favorite moments on the baseball field.

“Gibson Green hit a ball over at Coeur d’Alene, and I caught it,” Criswell said. “We were beating them, and it didn’t even matter if I caught it or not because we were beating them 15-1. But it was the first time we’d beaten them in six years. I saw the ball go up, and I knew I had it. I did a drop step and ran into the fence and caught it to end the game. It was one of the best moments I’ve had.”

Lake City then beat Coeur d’Alene again in the regional second-place game at Coeur d’Alene High, then won a state play-in game.

“Last year, we all just wanted to get there,” Hall said. “And when we got to state, we didn’t know what to do. We want to make some points and prove we’re a good team. We want to earn our spot and want to play. We want to do our best, and we’re never satisfied.”

Whether it’s practice, in a game or just hanging out at each other’s house, they never stop learning about each other.

“Off the field, especially with Jarred, our freshman year he was the same size as me,” Criswell said. “Now, he’s 30 pounds heavier and a few inches taller than me. He showed me that working hard, it doesn’t matter what anyone else does. But working hard, you can get where you want to be. He was given an opportunity to start as a sophomore and played so well, put in so much work — not only in his mechanics, but weightlifting and training — going to camps every weekend and lifting almost every day. You can actually get something out of hard work.”

“They’ve been a lot of fun to be around,” Conigliaro said. “They’ve taught me about teamwork and the value of good friends. You can go to them with anything, and I feel they can come to me with anything. We trust in each other both on and off the field. They’ve just been a really good group of guys to grow up with.”

And while Manzardo has only coached them for a few weeks so far, it’s been a great experience.

“All four of those boys have been a pleasure to coach since I took over the reigns,” said Manzardo, who took over for Travis Georgius as coach. “They’ve been real receptive to what I want to accomplish and been doing the little things for the club. They’ve been great role models for the younger kids and listen to what I’ve got to say, and the assistant coaches. They’ve been a pleasure. I’ve been very fortunate. They’re all really respectful and willing to do what I’ve asked them to do.”

Including getting the next batch of players ready to fill their shoes next season.

“Grant Wade (another senior) has been great to Zach Sensel with playing time at catcher,” Manzardo said. “It’s been a good situation, and with these boys, I know we’ve got a good situation. Overall, I’m happy with the kids and I want them to come back to Lake City and be proud of the team and to wear that Lake City baseball shirt.”