The Redhawks of La Roche College are entering their third season under head coach Chase Rowe and assistant coaches Ray Antonelli (pitching coach) and Nate McCollough (outfield/ infield). Throughout the Rowe Era, the Redhawks have built a tradition of success on and off the field with a list of accomplishments that yield a program that is advancing in the right direction of the top of DIII baseball. This era has produced noteworthy on-field achievements, such as:
With a coaching staff and players that take pride in hard work and player development, the future is bright for the Redhawks of La Roche College.
The 2007 Redhawks accomplished more milestones for the baseball program. The 2007 team won the regular season title for the first time and also hosted the AMCC Conference Tournament, also a first in the history of La Roche Baseball.
In 2008, the Redhawks' offense finished the season 3 rd in the NCAA with a .372 batting average and led the AMCC in all of the major offensive categories at regular season's end, while also shattering all offensive records held at the college.
Not only does the coaching staff hold high personal goals to continue improving but the players have begun to establish a tradition of hard work for the baseball program. The players and coaching staff strive daily to make improvements to the game, mentally and physically.
Pitching coach, Ray Antonelli, who played at DI Southern Mississippi University, has come in and completely revamped the pitching staff, not only with great player development knowledge but also implementing a strenuous daily regimen for the pitchers.
In the fall of 2007, the Redhawk family added a new member in Pittsburgh Pirates Strength and Conditioning Coach Frank Velasquez Jr. Velasquez has designed a complete in-season and off-season baseball specific training program for the team and will personally consult with interested team members on a monthly basis. The Redhawks are extremely excited to add the professional expertise of Mr. Velasquez and look forward to transferring the results of his efforts into their performance on the field.
The Redhawks will begin the next step of their journey when they open up the 2009 season in Ft. Pierce, Florida on March 8 th against Manhattanville College.
Head Coach - Chase Rowe
Head Coach Chase Rowe took over the La Roche Baseball program in the fall 2006 at the age of 23. Under the leadership of Rowe, the 2007 Redhawks went 25-17 and clinched their first ever regular season AMCC championship. The team also was the host of the 2007 AMCC Championships, which was also a first in the history of the La Roche baseball program. Despite the 2007 squad's loss in the championship game for the second consecutive year, Rowe headed an offense that produced eight starters that batted more than .310 for the season and a team batting average of .308. His defense produced a .964 fielding percentage, while the catchers combined for a total of five passed balls and gave up the least stolen bases (23) in the AMCC for the entire season.
The 2008 La Roche Redhawks went 22-17 under Rowe, and finished third in the NCAA with a .372 team batting average. That team featured five All-Conference players and nine everyday players that batted higher than .340, while finishing the regular season leading nearly all offensive categories in the AMCC.
In 2006, Rowe served as the assistant coach under Rich Pasquale and helped lead the Redhawks to a school record of 28 wins. This was the Redhawks first ever appearance in the AMCC Conference Championship Game, in which they would finish runner-up. That season, Rowe lead an offensive attack that broke all team offensive school records, including team batting average, home runs, runs scored, and slugging percentage. The team had a .320 batting average and produced three first team all-conference performers. In two seasons as catching coach at La Roche, Rowe's catchers have produced a solid resume from a defensive standpoint. In 2006 and 2007 combined, the Redhawk catchers had let up only nine passed balls (four in 2007 and five in 2006) and threw out 70 percent of attempted base stealers.
Prior to his coaching career, Rowe played one season at Gulf Coast Community College under Coach Darren Mazeroski, son of Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, who attributed greatly to his knowledge of the game of baseball. Following his year at GCCC, Rowe played three seasons at Slippery Rock University, under legendary head coach Jeff Messer. Rowe was a member of the 2003 Slippery Rock baseball team that won the North Atlantic Regional title and competed in the NCAA Division II World Series. That team holds the school record for wins with 43. Rowe made the 2003 North Atlantic Region All Tournament Team and was a two-time first team All-PSAC member. He also managed to finish second in the PSAC batting title race his senior year with a .412 batting average. Rowe held the school record for doubles in a season, with 21 through 44 games in 2005.
Rowe is the head coach/general manager of the Pittsburgh Diamond Dawgs in the Western Pennsylvania Elite Baseball League. The league is made up of higher talented high school athletes in the Pittsburgh area. Through two seasons with the Diamond Dawgs, 13 former players went on to play collegiate baseball.
For the summer 2009, Rowe was named manager of the Slippery Rock Sliders of the Prospect League. This league is an MLB sanctioned collegiate summer league, with teams from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. The Sliders roster encompasses college players from programs such as the University of Maryland, NC State, Louisville, Slippery Rock University, Youngstown State, San Jose State, West Chester University, Seton Hill University, and Gulf Coast Community College.
Rowe also has experience as a camp instructor at Slippery Rock University, Mansfield University, and The University of Pittsburgh.
Rowe graduated from Knoch High School in 2001 and received his bachelor's degree in Sport Coaching from The United States Sports Academy in 2008. Coach Rowe is the son of Tracy and Debbie Rowe, of Saxonburg, PA.
Assistant Coach -
Ray Antonelli
Ray Antonelli will return for a second stint as pitching coach for the Redhawks. Last season Antonelli was the Pitching Coach for Youngstown State University . Antonelli helped the Penguins to a greatly improved year. The Penguins finished in last place in the Horizon League in 2007, while in 2008 the Penguins improved to a 3rd place finish. He coached the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year in Aaron Swenson.
In 2007, Antonelli served as the pitching coach for La Roche College. He helped lead the Redhawks to a regular season Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference title and a runner-up finish in the conference tournament. Antonelli's staff ranked third in the league in earned-run average, and seven pitchers had an ERA of 4.50 or lower. Pitcher Nate McCollough earned Second-Team All-AMCC honors after leading the circuit with seven saves and finishing with a 3-1 record and 2.00 ERA.
Antonelli previously served as a pitching instructor at Palladini's Field of Dreams in Bridgeville , Pa. for three years. He also had coaching stints at Avonworth High School in Pittsburgh in 2006 and for the Pittsburgh Pandas Collegiate Summer League in 2005.
As a two-year letter winner for Southern Miss in 2003 and 2004, Antonelli helped lead the Golden Eagles to two NCAA Regional appearances. In 2003, Antonelli went 4-0 with five saves and an ERA of 2.14 Antonelli played at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City , Fla. He was a First-Team All-Panhandle Conference pitcher in 2002 after going 5-2 with an ERA of 1.84.
A native of Hopewell Township in Beaver County , Pa. , Antonelli was a highly touted pitcher at Hopewell High. He was a first-team all-state selection as a senior in 2000 when he helped lead his team to the Class AAA Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Championship. That year he was named the High School Baseball Player of the Year by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review and the Beaver County Times. Antonelli also earned honorable mention honors on the USA Today All-USA High School Baseball Team in 2000.
Antonelli holds a Bachelor of Science degree in coaching and sports administration from Southern Miss and a Master's degree in Business Education from Robert Morris University.
Assistant Coach - Nathan McCollough
Nathan McCollough will return to La Roche College for his second year as the assistant coach. Last year, McCollough was a part of the La Roche team that went 22-17 and compiled an NCAA third ranked team batting average of .372.
McCollough is a 2007 graduate of La Roche College where he played under now Head Coach Chase Rowe. During his two years at La Roche he played second base, and was also the closer for the Redhawks. In 2006, McCollough was a member of the La Roche squad that went to their first ever conference championship game and finished runner-up. In 2007, McCollough was one of the key members that brought La Roche College their first ever AMCC regular season title in baseball, while also finishing runner-up in the conference title game. In 2007, McCollough led the AMCC in saves and was also named First-Team All-Conference for his efforts.
During the 2006 and 2007 summer seasons, McCollough played for the Pittsburgh Pandas. In 2006, the Pandas won the NABF World Series with McCollough being the team's closer. During the 2006 World Series season, McCollough earned MVP honors in the World Series. McCollough compiled an 8-0 record and an ERA below 0.50. He also compiled 22 saves as the teams closer for those two years.
In the summer of 2008, McCollough was the assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Diamond Dawgs of the Western Pennsylvania Elite Baseball League, a league comprised of the upper echelon on high school players in Western Pennsylvania. For the summer 2009, he will be the team's field manager. McCollough graduated from Karns City High School in 2003.
Coach McCollough is the son of Dennis and Darlene McCollough, of Karns City, Pennsylvania. McCollough earned an Elementary Education degree from La Roche College. He is currently a teacher at St. Stephens Lutheran Academy in Zelienople, P.a.
La Roche College competes at the DIII level in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) that is comprised of various schools in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland. In 2006, the program took its first step to becoming a top tier team in the conference and in the DIII ranks. The 2006 Redhawks won a school record 28 games, while losing in the Conference title game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Coach Rowe served as the assistant coach during that season, guiding an offense that shattered every school record in all offensive categories at the time.