Submitted photo Three of the Altermatt brothers pose for a photo after a recent Lamberton Longsox game. From (L to R): Nick, Blake and Josh.

LAMBERTON - If you take a look at the Lamberton Longsox lineup card on any given game day, a familiar name appears: Altermatt. Three brothers – Blake, Josh, and Nick – are not only part of the amateur baseball team’s roster, they are key components to a Longsox squad looking to return to the state tournament for the sixth year in a row.

The trio may be separated by a couple years (Blake is 22, Josh is 20, Nick is 17) but they are connected by a genuine love and passion for baseball, something that they say goes back to their childhood, growing up together in Wanda, Minnesota.

“We played baseball every time my dad came home from work, and I looked forward to it every single day,” said Nick.

“We pretty much knew what we were going to do every day,” added Blake. “Because if we were all at home we were going to play baseball.”

That early practice brought out the Altermatts’ competitive side, and helped develop their baseball skills. All that time spent in the backyard has certainly paid off, as all three have excelled on the diamond. Over the years, they’ve remained close, with America’s pastime being the thing that always brings them together.

Blake has coached both of his brothers on the Wanda Mudhens bi-county team, and Josh recently finished coaching Nick in legion ball.

“Not too many baseball players get to be coached by their older brothers, and it’s always kind of cool to look down the third base line and see that your brother is giving you signs,” said Nick.

Eventually, the three brothers joined the Lamberton Longsox, a team that finished the regular season this year with a 23-4 record. Blake began the family tradition by joining the Longsox in 2012, and Lamberton has advanced to the state tournament every year since then. Josh and Nick soon followed, and for three years now they’ve been a part of the same team, and have had many opportunities to play on the field together. They have not squandered those opportunities, either. This season, all three of them have played in at least 14 games. Blake batted .349 in the regular season, Josh batted .279, and Nick hit an astonishing .558 in 52 at bats. They’ve all had a chance to pitch this year as well.

According to Josh, all three of them continue to learn from one another. “We steal things from each other, you learn small bits and pieces which helps you become better, just different little tricks that we pick up on,” Josh said.

Although they’ve played baseball together most of their life, they admit it’s still a surreal feeling being out on the field together for Lamberton.

“It’s a little different,” said Blake. “Growing up we were always playing against each other out in the backyard, so it’s kind of cool to be on the same team at the same time.”

It’s not every day a player gets to compete alongside their brother, let alone two of them. But right now, the Altermatt’s are focused on contributing to another deep playoff run for Lamberton, and for the next month or so, the three brothers are simply teammates. With a fourth brother, Ty, waiting in the wings, the family tradition is sure to live on for years to come. According to Nick, playing alongside his brothers will be a fond memory that he can eventually look back on with pride.

“You don’t really think of it much now,” said Nick. “But later on in life you’re going to think, ‘Wow, that was kind of fun.'”