PITTSBURGH — While striving to lift the La Roche College baseball program to new heights, coach Chase Rowe has reached a new standard himself.

The Knoch High School and Slippery Rock University graduate was named the American Baseball Coaches Association/Diamond NCAA Division IIII Mideast Region Coach of the Year.

That announcement was made Wednesday by the college.

Rowe — named Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth time in five years — had never received the Mideast Region honor.

“It means a lot to me because it’s an award voted upon by your peers,” Rowe said. “It shows they respect the work I’ve done and I’m very appreciative of that.”

La Roche finished 33-13 this past spring — setting a school record for wins in a season — and won the AMCC regular season and tournament championships. The Redhawks lost to No. 2-ranked Frostburg State, 8-4, in the Mideast Region title game.

Falling one game shy of the Division III World Series is not sitting well with Rowe.

“I played in the Division II World Series under coach (Jeff) Messer at Slippery Rock,” Rowe said. “As a coach, getting a team to the World Series is still my goal.

“We didn’t do what I set out to do. To be honest, I’ve already forgotten about last season and am working on next season. The players leaving our program deserve to feel proud of what they’ve accomplished here — and they should — but I have to move on.”

Rowe is 228-148 in nine years at La Roche, sporting a .600 winning percentage. His team defeated Frostburg State three times this season.

But Tanner Wilt and Rege Sauer — the Redhawks’ No. 2 and 3 starting pitchers, respectively — missed the region tournament with injuries.

“Those two guys were outstanding all spring. If they’re healthy, I believe we get there,” Rowe said of the World Series. “But injuries are a part of it.”

La Roche does return half of its roster for next season, including Butler graduate Colin Williamson. He will return as the Redhawks’ starting shortstop and will be a team captain in 2016.

“Chase has taken me to a level I never thought I could get to,” Williamson said. “He’s fathered me through the game at the college level.

“As a coach, he’s not going to give up on you at any point. I can’t say enough about him. He’s a great coach ... a great friend.”

Williamson hit .333 with two homers and 22 RBI this year. He led the team with 53 runs scored and seven triples.

“Colin has been part of three conference championships here and played in two regionals,” Rowe said. “He’s been a starter for three years and has the most experience on the team ... He’ll definitely be a leader.”

Williamson said Rowe’s coaching job in 2015 may have been his best yet.

“He took us within a game of the World Series by believing in us. He made us believe in ourselves,” the shortstop said. “He connected with us as a team.”

Rowe has also been named D3Baseball’s Mideast Region Coach of the Year. All regional coaches of the year are eligible for the ABCA/Diamond National Coach of the Year Award, which will be announced today.

“I’m certainly not expecting or anticipating anything like that,” Rowe said. “The guy who wins the World Series should win that award every year, in my opinion.”