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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels July 13, 2004 Former Pilots go back in time, win Alumni game By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Any preconceived notions that the inaugural Ashland Pilots Alumni Game was a win-at-all-cost affair for the alums were promptly dashed in the first inning. That's when Jackson Rowe, a first baseman four times as strong as he is fast, proclaimed to the rest of his alumni teammates: "Today, I'm going to steal a base for the first time ever." Ashland Pilots alum Jackson Rowe slides safely into second base just before Steve Jorgensen applies the tag. The alumni team beat the current Pilots handily in the inaugural Ashland Pilots Alumni Game, Saturday at North Mountain Park. Satsuki Doi | Ashland Daily Tidings Moments later Rowe made good on that promise, and the rest of the night belonged to the alumni as well as the Pilots of old overcame an early 2-0 deficit to beat the 2004 Pilots handily, 8-4, and earn bragging rights for at least a year. Though no books were kept, the "old" guys - comprised entirely of players that suited up for the Pilots between 2001 and '03 - walked away with a convincing victory in a game that featured more laughs than runs, more throw-aways than line drives. It was anything but pretty - fittingly, the highlight of the day was alumni catcher Chase Cook's diving tag out of Steve Jorgensen at home. But the game still represented seven innings of blissful nostalgia for Pilots fans who look with reverence upon the players who put Ashland baseball on the map with a memorable run just a few years ago. That opportunity looked more like an outside possibility as game day approached. Only two days prior, Pilots manager Greg Weston had just two alums - Ryan Decker and Tim Hegdahl - committed to play. But, just like the old days, the former Pilots came through in the clutch, fielding a team that proved more than up to the task. The list of alums that took the field looked on paper like an all-star team of yesteryear. Besides Rowe and Cook, the alumni team rolled out Decker, Tim and Chad Hegdahl, Zach Miedecke, Chris Presicci, Arron Nelson, Nick Danis, Bryan Clevenger, Rocky Reeser and Jackson's brother, Bill Rowe. The rust showed, especially early, when multiple errors on the same play allowed the 2004 Pilots to take the early lead. "And the circus begins," one alum hollered as the ball went sailing past Reeser at third. "I didn't know this was going to be so serious," Danis joked later in the inning. "We should have been out here practicing all week." But it didn't take long for the alumni team to turn the tables and put on a show. Hegdahl went yard, Miedecke made the scoop at first base and Danis' voice was hoarse by the seventh inning. Before long, it was just like the old days. With no coach calling the shots, players on the alumni team took it upon themselves to pick their defensive spots, and some of their decisions were just plain wacky. Jackson and Bill Rowe, both first basemen, played catcher and shortstop respectively, Chase, a catcher during his Ashland High days, played second and Miedecke, another first baseman, took a turn in left field. The alums did their best to keep it lighthearted. After a hard foul off down the third base line by a teammate, alum acting third base coach Chad Hegdahl said: "The field's over here, not over there. Get it right." And after Reeser's throw out from third finally ended the error-plagued first inning, Jackson Rowe said, "it took an '04 to get it done," referring to Reeser's status as a 2004 graduate. The game was originally scheduled to go nine innings, but several alumni players had prior engagements. Presicci left early, Decker was planning to attend an ultimate fighting competition in Medford and Danis had his heart set on the Fuego game. When asked if he played for Fuego, Danis said, "Play? It's a stretch for me to even watch soccer." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams