2008 Season Outlook
Coming off of their first regular season title in 2007 and back to back runner-up finishes in the AMCC Conference Championship in 2006 and 2007, the La Roche College Baseball family looks to continue their winning ways in 2008 under Head Coach Chase Rowe (2 nd year). Coming into the season with a new revamped roster, the energetic and hard-nosed Redhawks are determined as ever to win their first ever AMCC Championship and make their first NCAA regional appearance.
Pitching
The pitching staff will consist of four starters that will compete for the number one spot. Senior Max Zingle, a transfer from the University of Pittsburgh , and sophomore Anthony Cirrocco, another transfer from CCAC-South, will join an already successful and experienced Redhawk staff lead by junior Phil Avolio and junior Nate Fillip. The bullpen will be anchored by senior workhorse Kurt Krejocic and senior Ryan DeMary who is recovering from an off-season surgery that kept him out for most of the 2007 season. DeMary was the number two starter on the 2006 AMCC runner-up squad. Seniors Shawn Wright and Nick Falcone, junior Tom Onyshko, and freshmen Kelbi Berg and Corey Lotis look to contribute significant time out of the bullpen in 2008.
Infield
The infield will be led by junior Drew Bosco, a 2 nd team All-Conference pick in 2007. Bosco, who hit .340 last season as a sophomore, will be joined by 3 new additions to the Redhawk infield. Last season's right fielder, Keith Borman, will move back to his original position and take over at shortstop while junior transfer, Zac Coleman, a JUCO All-American from CCAC-South, will complete the double play tandem up the middle at second base. Junior Justin Alessio, junior Mike Goedeker, and freshman Marcus Cook will all compete for the first base job. Alessio, who hit .291 in 2007, is the front runner for the position. Sophomore transfer Nick Valadja and freshman Chester Kirkwood will share the job behind the dish in 2008.
Outfield
The outfield will be controlled by last year's centerfielder and 3 year starter Eric McCombie. McCombie hit .311 last year as a junior. Juniors Erik Densmore and Pat Dempsey, sophomores Jon Caruso and Brett Spagnola, and freshman George Nahay will all compete for the final two outfield spots.
Designated Hitter
Junior Mike Goedeker and freshman Erik Dividock will fill out the depth chart as Coach Rowe's options for the designated hitter positions.
The Redhawks will open the 2008 season on March 2 nd against Elizabethtown College in Fort Pierce , Florida .
 
Head Coach - Chase Rowe
Head Coach Chase Rowe took over the La Roche Baseball program in the fall of 2006 at the age of 23 years old. 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 also was a first in the history of the La Roche baseball program, the 2007 squad lost in the championship game for the second consecutive year. Rowe headed an offense that produced 8 starters that batted over .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 5 passed balls and gave up the least stolen bases (23) in the AMCC for the entire season.
In 2006, he served as the assistant coach under Rich Pasquale helped lead the Redhawk's to a school record 28 wins and a first ever appearance in the AMCC Conference Championship Game in which they would finished runner up. That season Rowe lead an offensive attack the broke all team offensive school records including team batting average, home runs, runs scored, and slugging percentage. That season the team had a .320 batting average and produced 3 first team all-conference performers. In 2 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 9 passed balls (4 in 2007 and 5 in 2006) and threw out 70% 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, whom both attributed greatly to his knowledge of the game of baseball. Following his year at GCCC, Rowe played 3 seasons at Slippery Rock University , under legendary head coach Jeff Messer. Rowe was a member of the 2003 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 was a 2-time 1 st team All- PSAC member and finished second in the PSAC batting title race his senior year with a .412 batting average. He also holds the school record for double in a season with 21 through 44 games in 2005.
Rowe is also the head coach of the Pittsburgh Diamond Dawgs in the Western Pennsylvania Elite Baseball League. The league is comprised of higher talented high school athletes in the Pittsburgh area. 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 proud son of Tracy and Debbie Rowe of Saxonburg, PA.
|
