SLIPPERY ROCK— Together again.

After years of coaching sons Matt and Billy in youth baseball, longtime Slippery Rock University baseball coach Jeff Messer has them in his starting lineup for The Rock.

"It's always been a dream for me," Messer said. "They've had bigger aspirations and they've both had opportunities."

Matt Messer, a senior outfielder, played at Manatee (Fla.)Community College last year while getting his academic standing to play for a four-year school.

While he enjoyed playing ball down south, he always figured on returning to The Rock.

"Baseball is a different world down there and it was a great experience for me,"Matt Messer said. "You play and practice every day and it's intense. Down there, it's all about getting drafted and going pro. You were a baseball player first and a student second.

"I've never been a great student, but I know it's important. When I became ineligible here, I felt like I let my father and my teammates down. I always knew I was coming back. I had to make it right."

Billy Messer, a sophomore second baseman, was recruited by Division IWinthrop (S.C.) before deciding to attend SRU.

"We went down to Winthrop on a visit and I really thought he'd be going there," Messer said. "He asked me to make the decision, but, obviously, it was up to him.

"Billy decided to stay home and play here and everything fell into place for him. His position was open and he was able to step in and play as a freshman. At Winthrop, he probably wouldn't have gotten a chance to play so soon."

Billy Messer hit .282 as a freshman with a homer and 23 RBI.

"Had I gone to Winthrop, my parents would never get to see me play,"he said. "And I've gotten used to seeing my family at my games."

The Messers always have been a sports-minded family. Messer's wife, Mary, is the all-time leading scorer in women's basketball at Siena College with 2,300 points. She and Melinda Rhoades run a recreational basketball league in Slippery Rock.

Their daughter, Michelle, was a basketball and volleyball standout before injuries curtailed her career.

For Matt and Billy, it's been all about baseball.

"I can't ever remember not loving baseball,"Billy said.

"They've been around it all their lives,"Coach Messer said. "They are definitely a product of their environment."

Messer is from Massachusetts and is good friends with former Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette. Messer broke into coaching at Westfield State, where he worked with current Baltimore Orioles bench coach Dave Jauss.

"My kids sat on Felipe Alou's lap when he was managing the West Palm Beach Expos,"he said. "They've had lunch with Mo Vaughn and Nomar Garciaparra during spring training."

Before coming to Slippery Rock, Messer was an assistant coach at Oklahoma City for a year.

"I got the job on my academic background more than anything,"he said. "I only had three years of coaching experience at the time.

"My wife and I figured we'd be there for a year, maybe two, tops, then move on. But we loved this area, the neighborhood feel. ... It became our home."

Messer in his 23rd year at SRU, is a 10-time conference coach of the year, has been to four NCAADivision IIWorld Series and has accumulated more than 700 victories.

Only James Wilson, who owns 1,034 wins in 46 years at Temple University, has more collegiate baseball triumphs in Pennsylvania.

"My boys were at all four of those World Series — 1989, 1997, 2000 and 2003. They grew up on this game,"Messer said.

And he made sure they didn't grow up without him.

When Matt and Billy decided to play baseball, Messer coached their T-ball, Little League, Pony and Colt League teams. He was their head coach until their Slippery Rock High School years.

Matt and Billy had no problem being coached by their father.

"It was a big benefit to us,"Billy said. "Obviously, Dad knew what he was talking about, so when he yelled at us as our coach, we paid attention. We got plenty of one-on-one instruction at home, too."

Messer's sons both hope to stay in baseball for a long time. Billy is minoring in coaching and hopes to follow in his father's footsteps as a college coach.

Matt has no interest in coaching, but still wants to stay involved in the game.

For now, the Messer men share a common goal:Getting to the Division IIWorld Series together.

"I've dreamed it for years,"Coach Messer admitted.

As far as living it?

"That'd be the ultimate way to go out,"Matt said. "And it's possible — very possible."