ML Dirt Dawgs filling needed skills gap

Local Single-A Legion team earns 2022 state appearance

Paul Delaney, Cheney Free Press | Last updated Jun 15, 2023 8:31am0

Medical Lake Dirt Dawgs count

Players celebrate the Medical Lake Dirt Dawgs 10-9 victory over Deer Park that sent them to state in 2022. The team is helping hone baseball skills for local players in the 13 to 15 age group.

MEDICAL LAKE – Lance Michaud saw a need when he arrived in Medical Lake for duty at Fairchild Air Force Base as its Food Superintendent in 2019 and he filled it.

Now the West Plains has an additional bridge to fill what was a baseball gap with the formation of the Medical Lake Dirt Dawgs Single-A American Legion team.

"I came up here from Vegas and, you know, they have good club ball down there," Michaud said. His son, A.J., played year-round, minus the three months he took off for basketball.

But to Michaud's surprise, for the ages between Little League and high school ball - 13 to 15 - "Base...