Chargers packed up for Spokane

The Great Falls Chargers are going to play a lot of baseball over the divide this weekend.

All three clubs in the American Legion program will head to the Spokane area for tournaments with play beginning Thursday.

The AA and A squads will play in different divisions of the American Legion Wood Bat Classic, hosted by the Spokane-area Legion. The higher-level bracket contains 30 teams while the lower-level — the A teams — boasts 50 clubs.

The Chargers B team will play in a tournament designed for incoming high school freshmen with eight to 10 other teams.

The two upper teams are guaranteed five games each, but AA manager Levi Johnson said he isn't worried about having enough arms.

"We played five last weekend, so the rotation works out so that the five starters from last weekend will be able to start the five games," he said. "And then we have the whole week off, so we don't really need to save pitching."

Johnson said the competition is as good as any his team will see this season. With the team finally healthy — senior infielder/pitcher Jake Lowery has returned from a broken hand and shortstop Cade Stuff is back in the lineup after medical complications — the Chargers are ready to go.

Johnson called Chase Linn up from the A squad for some added depth recently, and he'll swing a few others up over the weekend.

"It'll be fun for the kids," Johnson said. "We'll probably move a couple A guys around for a day here and there, let them get that experience."

And for those hoping to play at the next level, this weekend is a good chance to get seen.

"There are usually a lot of coaches there from all those junior colleges in the area, so it's a good tournament for us to go to," Johnson said.

The AA finds itself in pool play with the St. Albert (Alberta) Cardinals, Northeast (Wash.) 49ers, Spokane Northstars and Bellingham (Wash.) Post 7. They're guaranteed at least one playoff game after the pod play.

As for the A squad, they'll square off with Chewelah (Wash.), Shadle Park (Wash.) No. 1 and Spokane Crew and Thursday and Friday.

Medicine Hat is the only other league opponent in the highest-level bracket, but other Chargers opponents — like the Bitterroot Red Sox, Okotoks (Alberta) Black Dawgs and Edmonton (Alberta) Cardinals also appear. The A team could see the Bitterroot Bucs in playoff format.