Soft voice of experience

POLSON — Bradley Pichler could be as loud as he wanted to.

His five seasons mean that he’s played more games with the Mission Valley Mariners than anyone in recent memory, won a Class A Northwest regional title with the M’s in 2012 and is the only Mariner back this season off a college roster.

To any other Mariner, his word may as well be gospel.

But he’s doesn’t want to be that kind of teammate.

“I just don’t want to be the dictator of the team,” Pichler said. “I’m a quiet leader. I try to lead by example.”

Coach Jami Hanson admires the young man’s leadership style.

“He’s our leader,” Hanson said. “He’s being exactly what we need him to be right now.”

Knowing what to do and when to do it was a lot more important when he wasn’t at the top of the food chain. Pichler has been in the Mariners program for five seasons now, so he was the young guy for quite a while. That was the inspiration for his nickname, Smallz. Now one of the bigger players on the roster, the moniker carries a bit of irony.

“Those guys were a lot bigger,” Pichler remembered about his prior teammates. “To take what I learned from 2012 when we won the regional championship, I can take that to today and teach these younger guys what it’s all about.”

He said that he’s not stuck on trying to mold this year’s team to that recipe for success, though.

“We’re not like them,” Pichler said. “We have our own way of winning.”

A lot of that revolves around versatility, one of the qualities Hanson appreciates most about him. Pichler has experience playing basically every position in the infield. He even caught in last Sunday’s game against Rainier.

Normally a coaches’ favorite, Pichler has earned the ire of Hanson on occasion for his other love: skateboarding.

“It’s my passion, he said. “I would drop a baseball to keep skating.”

Pichler and his brother, Jayson, were introduced to the sport when they were little. They were hooked.

Pichler said that Polson’s skate park is one of his favorite places to be.

“It’s a good atmosphere to be in,” he said. “It relieves stress.”

But on at least one occasion it’s caused some, too. Pichler missed several weeks of his junior season after he broke his ankle skateboarding.

Pichler played last season at Dawson Community College in Glendive, where he was third on the team in innings pitched in his freshman season.

Dawson’s roster is full of Mariners — MonDak player of the year Jake Young, Jeremiah Crawford, Josh Rostad. Pichler is the only one under the American Legion’s age cutoff, though.

The rising sophomore said the success of former Mariners in Dawson’s program has paved the way for guys like himself.

“We’re more comfy with each other,” he said. “…We’re very accepted going onto the team because of those guys.”

That tradition is set to continue, as well, as graduated seniors Ryan Pablo, Jared Young and Aaron Rasmussen have all committed to head to Glendive this fall.

For now, though, the Mariners’ utility man is just enjoying his last Legion ride.