Lakers, Miners up for District challenge

By Lethbridge Herald on July 22, 2025.

Herald File Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Lakers Payton Brownlee catches an outfield throw to get Ethan Grad of the Medicine Hat Monarchs out at second base during American Legion 'A' baseball action at Lloyd Nolan Yard earlier this season

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge’s two American Legion ‘A’ baseball teams are set to compete for a North District Class ‘A’  Championship beginning tomorrow in Lewistown.

The Lethbridge Lakers are going in as the eighth seed and will play the ninth place Great Falls Chargers to open the championship on Thursday, with the loser having to navigate through the longer road of the loser bracket and the winner going through the higher bracket in the double elimination format.

This current version of the Lakers are in their first year as an ‘A’ level American Legion team after moving up from the ‘B’ circuit after a few years.

“It’s just such a good way for our players to experience that pressure or the excitement early in their career and be used to it as they get older and they move up,” said Lucas Puszkar, Lakers head coach.

Puszkar spoke from experience as a former Lethbridge American Legion player as to how the level rises at the District tournament.

“It almost feels like every inning is the seventh inning of a normal conference game,” said Puszkar.

“So, the energy’s up, every team just wants to win every at bat (and) every inning.”

The Lakers expectation is to bring a winning mentality.

“We’re gonna set out every game to win this game and then move forward from there,” said Puszkar.

“We’re gonna put our best line-up forward for every game and just go one step at a time.”

Playing their game and converting on the routine plays will be key to the Lakers if they want to go on in the tournament.

“I know our pitchers are gonna throw strikes and get that done,” said Puszkar.

“So, if we can play a solid defensive game, play our normal game on offence, I know we’ll be in good shape.”

The Lakers finished with an 8-23 record in the North District Class ‘A’ standings.

The Lakers begin play tomorrow morning against Great Falls at 9 a.m.

The Miners finished third in the North District Class ‘A’ standings with a 22-10 record and draw the North District tournament host, the Lewistown Redbirds, on Thursday night  at 7:30 p.m in their opener.

“With facing the host team opening night there at the tournament, we can really set a good motivation for the rest (of) the tournament,” said Nicholas Ankermann, Miners head coach.

If Lethbridge wins that first game, their hope is to send their intent  to the rest of the teams that they’re coming for them.

“We’re coming out all out and just leaving (it) all out there,” said Ankermann.

Pitching will be key for the Miners if they are do make a run in this year’s tournament.

“You have to be able to have a lot of pitchers you can rely on to throw strikes and fill up the strike zone and you need your starters to be able to go deep into games,” said Ankermann.

Ankermann does not want to see anything changed with the batters, as their   approaches at the plate have been strong all year.

“We’ve done all the tweaking during the year and now come District time, it’s go with what you know and trust the skills that you have,” said Ankermann.

The Miners will look to qualify for their third straight State tournament but this time by winning the North District tournament as they came second the last two years.

The  North District champion with join the State tournament host and a fellow district foe in   Tri-County Cardinals as division representatives at that tournament.

The North District Class ‘A’ tournament runs July 24-27 in Lewistown.