Rocks of the team

Jame Petersen and Devin Kamarainen reflect on career with the Mission Valley Rockies

ST. IGNATIUS - With their 2010 campaign ending two weeks ago at the state tournament, the Mission Valley Rockies are only losing two players to graduation this year. However, those two are going to be heavily missed.

"It's two very vital players in my mind," Rockies head coach Alan Anderson said. "They're the heart and soul of the team this year."

The two he's talking about are shortstop Jame Petersen, of Charlo, and catcher Devin Kamarainen, of Polson.

"I got kids from both ends of the valley and they respect them," Anderson said.

Both have been playing for the two-year team and both taken on the role of team captains in their final year.

"I didn't name them, the team did," Anderson said.

They helped with team chemistry, which is a tough thing when kids are coming from different towns and backgrounds.

"At the beginning of the year, everyone had their own little groups," said Kamarainen. "By the end of the year, everyone was in one big gigantic group."

The team had gelled so much that by the end of the season they were able to come within one game of the state championship.

"We had a lot of players step up this year," Petersen said. "We started playing a lot better once we got to know one another."

The leadership from Petersen and Kamarainen was evident on and off the field, during games and during practice.

"They really took over and took these kids under their wings. They don't let the other kids get down on themselves and that's what I'm really proud of them about," Anderson said. "If they see a kid having a bad game or bad practice, they'll pull them aside and say let's go work on it."

Moving to the Mission Valley his freshman year, Petersen also played football, wrestling and track for Charlo High School. He'll be going to Montana-Northern in the fall and will be wrestling at the college level.

"You learn to like the kid in a hurry, what's not to like about him?" Anderson said. "He's upbeat and light-hearted, he likes to joke around with the guys."

Petersen usually has the dirtiest jersey on the field and it's a tribute to his athleticism and willingness to sell out on a play. This spring he was awarded the defensive MVP in the Montana Class C All-Star game for football.

"He pays attention all the time, even with the mundane things like a catcher throwing back to the pitcher," Anderson said. "He's watching constantly, he's not taking his eye off the ball because he's looking for any opportunity to go."

His aggressive football and wrestling nature is evident on the base paths.

"Jame is by far one of the best, if not the best, base runner I have," Anderson said.

And his favorite sport? Well that depends on the weather.

"I like all sports so it doesn't really matter, it depends on what season it is," Petersen said. "It helps go through the classes a lot better, then you're not bored after school and it gives you something to do so you don't get in trouble."

When Anderson wants his team to communicate out on the field, he said that Petersen and Kamarainen are the first ones to start creating the chatter. The one position on the field that you always want chattering is your catcher and Anderson thinks his is top rate.

"As far as I'm concerned, I have the best catcher in the valley," Anderson said.

Kamarainen, who will be attending the University of Montana this fall, hopes to be able to play for the club team and continue his baseball career.

"He takes command out there," Anderson said. "I like my catchers to take command because they can see everything that's going on."

And why did Kamarainen start getting behind the plate? Because he liked putting on the gear.

"That's why I started catching, because I wanted to wear the gear and touch the ball every play," Kamarainen said.

He's also expressed interest to Anderson in coming back next summer to be a coach.

"Devin could have played one more year if he would have been born three weeks later," Anderson said.

While they'll be leaving the Rockies, they've certainly left their mark and anyone lucky enough to see the two play know they're the two cornerstones of the team.

"I have to rate them as top-rate ball players," Anderson said.