PITTSBURGH — Pride and tradition mean a lot.

When it comes to La Roche College baseball, they mean everything.

“I hope so,” said 12th year head coach and Knoch graduate Chase Rowe. “Pride and tradition are what this program is built on.

“We had to overcome a lot of things this year. The weather was terrible. We only had three starters back. I wasn't sure how it was going to happen, but we found a way to keep on winning.

The Redhawks put together a 36-8 record this spring, winning the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship for the fifth straight season. La Roche placed 10 players on the All-AMCC team.

Rowe was named AMCC Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive year and seventh time in the past eight seasons. Only 35 years old, Rowe is 340-178 in 12 years at La Roche, a .650 winning percentage.

“Every team has been different here,” said Rowe, who also played at Slippery Rock University under longtime coach Jeff Messer. “I don't have the luxury of going out and picking up great players to come here.

“Guys come in, we work with them, they grow within the program and eventually help us win.”

Two prime examples are junior pitcher and Mars graduate Cam Smith, senior pitcher and Butler grad Jesse Savisky.

Smith made the starting rotation this season and was 3-0 with a 4.67 earned run average. He struck out 31 and walked 12 in 34.1 innings pitched.

Smith transferred to La Roche after going 7-2 as a freshman at Pitt-Greensburg.

“I expected to work my way into the starting rotation here,” Smith said. “I know the coaching staff was counting on me to do that.

“Chase is so driven. He is as passionate and motivated about baseball as anyone I've ever been around. I've never seen an individual more motivated to win. His will to win rubs off on you.”

Smith is majoring in finance and management.

Savisky struggled for three years on the mound at La Roche before putting together a 2.92 earned run average out of the bullpen this spring. He averaged nearly a strikeout an inning.

“Not only has Cam won as a starter, he's been a dependable late-inning guy when we've needed him out of the bullpen,” Rowe said. “Jesse became a long relief guy we could count on to come in, throw strikes and keep us in games.”

Savisky credits Rowe for staying with him throughout his career.

“It took a while, but Chase unlocked my potential. He gets maximum potential out of every player he gets,” Savisky said. “Chase takes every recruit and develops him into the best person and player that guy can be.

“We work out hard every day. Our team always has a high level of fitness.”

Savisky said he has “absolutely no regrets” about coming to La Roche. He is a chemistry major with a career goal of becoming a lab technician.

“I wanted an opportunity to play Division III baseball and with Chase Rowe coaching at La Roche, I saw a successful program and knew we were going to win,” Savisky said.

La Roche began NCAA Mideast Regional play Thursday, defeating Ithaca 5-1 in Adrian, Mich. The Redhawks are ranked 16th in NCAA Division III and are third-seeded in the regional.

Rowe is raising his family in Mars and has no plans on leaving.

“I've lived in this area my whole life and I love where I'm coaching,” he said. “As long as La Roche will have me, I imagine I'll be here.”

Messer has 994 career wins in over 30 years at Slippery Rock. Rowe isn't looking at his career win total or where it may wind up.

“Coach Messer is a tremendous mentor to me and he's had a major influence on my life,” Rowe said,. “But I don't worry about where my win total's at. I know I'll never get to 1,000, I can say that.

“The challenge of each new season does it for me. How long can we keep this going? That's plenty enough motivation right there.”