Prairie hopes to answer the Call

The quality will be greater than the quantity for the Prairie Cardinals AA American Legion baseball team in 2017.

And that’s no knock on the players they’ve got, but with 11 on the roster, they’ll be tested in all kinds of ways this season in Pat Call’s first year as coach.

Prairie returns starters Tanner McCliment-Call, Brock Zeller, Matt Fleming, Corbin Buck, Chaz Bailey and Preston Benson this year. Also back is Jared Porter, who played at Yakima Valley Community College this year, and Sam Schulze, who last played for the program in 2015. Seth Villanpando, a Timberlake High product, is with the team this year after Northern Lakes opted to field only a Single-A team, after fielding a AA team the past two years.

“I had him as a player a few years ago at the Single-A level,” Call said. “He’s a good player, solid catcher and throws the ball really well. He’s a huge pickup for us.”

Returning pitchers are McCliment-Call, Zeller, Fleming, Porter and Benson.

“I think we’ll be pretty deep pitching wise,” Call said. “We’ll have a good starting rotation and have to scrap and claw in the bullpen.”

Call takes over for Brian Fowler, who stepped down after two years as coach.

When it comes to play in the three-team AA North Idaho League, Prairie will face Coeur d’Alene in four single games, and play doubleheaders against Lewis-Clark.

“I really think Lewis-Clark is the team that’s going to get chased around this year,” Call said. “They don’t have the travel team pressure, so they get a lot of good high school players and have quite a bit of kids to pull from.”

As for the matchups with Coeur d’Alene?

“It’s going to be great for us,” Call said, “because they’re going to see Porter four times. Both teams will be able to throw their aces, games will be closer and faster.”

Prairie will play host to the Class AA Area A (district) tournament July 20-23, with the top two teams advancing to the state tournament July 26-20 in Twin Falls.