McCANDLESS, Pa. - Assistant coach Sean Lubin of the La Roche baseball team will be stepping in as the Interim Head Coach for the 2019-20 season after Head Coach Chase Rowe announced early last week he would be heading to the pro's to coach hitting for a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Lubin, a 2015 graduate of La Roche, served as an assistant to Rowe for four years. Prior to coaching, Sean was a three-time AMCC All-Conference selection for the Redhawks under Rowe.
Of Lubin, Coach Rowe highlighted "Sean is one of the most loyal and hard-working coaches/players I have ever had. He puts in the long days without any complaints and is constantly learning to be a better coach. His charisma makes him a favorite amongst players, parents, and other coaches. I have no doubt the baseball program is in good hands with Lubin at the head."
When asked about the opportunity, Coach Lubin had this to say: "I would like to thank President Sister Candace Introcaso, Vice President Colleen Ruefle, and Athletic Director Jim Tinkey for giving me the opportunity to take over as head coach of my alma mater. La Roche has been such an important part of my life the past nine years as a player and an assistant coach. I am truly honored to receive this responsibility. I would like to thank Chase Rowe for expanding my baseball knowledge throughout the years, and helping me mature as a young adult. He has been an amazing mentor, and I will put my heart and soul into continuing the Redhawk tradition that Coach Rowe has instilled into this program."
The La Roche baseball program has also announced it's schedule for the 2020 season.
The Redhawks will play 38 regular season games, highlighted by 16 home games at the Baierl Athletic Complex, 10 doubleheaders against AMCC opponents and the teams annual trip to Port Charlotte, FL for the Snowbird Classic.
LRU plays a pair of scrimmages at Washington & Jefferson College on Saturday, February 15th starting at noon. Regular season play will open in Berea, OH against Baldwin Wallace University on Sunday, February 23rd in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
The Snowbird Classic will take place from March 8th through March 12th in Port Charlotte, FL. The Redhawks will face Swarthmore College three times while also playing Ohio Wesleyan, Heidelberg and Susquehanna one game a piece. More information on the Snowbird Classic can be found here.
After Florida, La Roche will head out to Marietta, OH to face the pioneers on Wednesday, March 18th starting at 5:00 p.m. They will host Marietta eight days later at home. beginning at 4:00 p.m.
AMCC action begins Saturday, March 21st at 1:00 p.m. when the Redhawks host Pitt Braford in a doubleheader home opener. Following that, LRU will travel to face conference foes Francsican (Tuesday, March 24th at 1:00 p.m.) and Alfred St. (Saturday, March 28th at 1:00 p.m.). Both days will be doubleheaders.
In April, baseball will play a loaded 18 games throughout the month (16 double-headers and 14 conference games). At home, they will host doubleheaders against Pitt Greensburg (Wednesday, April 1st at 1:00 p.m.), Medaille (Saturday, April 4th at 1:00 p.m.), Washington & Jefferson (Wednesday, April 8th at 1:00 p.m.), Penn St. Behrend (Wednesday, April 15th at 1:00 p.m.) and Mt. Aloysius (Tuesday, April 21st at 1:00 p.m.) The Redhawks close out the month at home in single, nine-inning games vs. non-conference challenger's Thiel (Wednesday, April 22nd at 4:00 p.m.) and Muskingum (Tuesday, April 30th at 4:00 p.m.).
On the road in April, La Roche will play strictly conference doubleheaders at Penn St. Altoona (Tuesday, April 7th at 1:00 p.m.), Hilbert (Saturday, April 11th at 1:00 p.m.) and D'Youville (Saturday, April 25th at 1:00 p.m.)
View the complete 2020 La Roche Baseball Schedule here.