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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 17, 2006 Ashland graduate Bill Rowe provides some punch in the 15th-ranked Oregon State lineup this year. No place like home Former Ashland standout Bill Rowe is a big hit with Beavers By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Bill Rowe has exhibited an incredible sense of timing over the years. While at Ashland High, Rowe was one of the Southern Oregon Conference’s most feared hitters thanks to a keen eye and an effortless, left-handed swing. After three successful but unsatisfying seasons at the University of California-Santa Barbara, however, Rowe once again leaned on his sense of timing and approached Oregon State baseball coach Pat Casey last summer about a potential transfer. While Casey typically handles such contacts with some skepticism, treading lightly so as not to upset team chemistry, the prospect of Rowe at first base was appealing. "We really didn’t have a concrete guy returning (for this season), so it was kind of nice how it all worked out for us," says Casey, whose Beavers lost first baseman Andy Jenkins to graduation. "It’s been a good mix for us. Bill’s turned out to be a great kid and a good addition to our club. He’s done a good job for us." Advertisement Entering Sunday’s game against Stanford, Rowe ranked among the team leaders in batting average (.343), RBIs (23) and home runs (two). His 13 doubles pace the Beavers and rank Rowe among the Pac-10 Conference leaders in that category. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder also has provided a steadying influence in the field, committing just one error to go with 16 assists and a .997 fielding percentage. "He plays very well defensively at first base and is a big target over there," says Casey, whose 15th-ranked Beavers are 24-9 overall and 5-3 in conference. And while Rowe’s presence in Corvallis has certainly been appreciated, it doesn’t compare to how thrilled he is to be back in Oregon. "It’s just good to be home," he says. "I can’t tell you how great it was early in the fall (last year) to be able to go back home to Ashland for a weekend or have my family and friends come visit me up here. I never got much of that down in Southern California." Rowe lettered all three years at UCSB, batting .279 with 10 homers, 23 doubles and 94 RBIs despite not being an everyday player. He first entertained the idea of joining the Beavers last summer while playing for the Nike-sponsored Aloha Knights in Portland. Two current Beavers, backup catcher Erik Ammon and relief pitcher Daniel Turpen, were on that team and the topic of Rowe’s potential change of scenery came up. "The situation seemed like it was just right," says Rowe, who hit .286 with 25 RBIs, 10 doubles and two HRs for the Knights (36-16). The only difficult part was having to ask for his release at UCSB in what Rowe calls a "tough, last-minute move." Known for his professionalism and standing as a team player — a team-high 11 sacrifice bunts for the Knights can testify to his selfless nature — Rowe had to put his own needs ahead of all others. He also had to put complete faith in his skills as a baseball player, since nothing was guaranteed for him at OSU. The Beavers were coming off a Pac-10 championship and their first trip to the College World Series in 52 years, and competition for a spot in the lineup was expected to be stiff. It didn’t take long for Rowe to make his mark, however, and he credits his Knights teammates and former Crater standout Ryan Gipson for helping make the transition that much easier. "They kind of all had my back and were telling the other guys to just wait and see what I could do," says Rowe, who lives with starting catcher Mitch Canham and had played with left fielder Cole Gillespie in high school all-star tournaments. Rowe says he lost about 20 pounds "busting my tail to get into the best shape possible I could for the team," and that didn’t go unnoticed. "He’s worked very hard to become better," says Casey. "He’s shown that he’s not only a good teammate, he’s a good baseball player and person." And someone who’s seemingly in hog heaven for how quickly he has been embraced and for how much support the baseball team receives from Beaver Nation. "Everything’s going well," says Rowe. "I’ve always felt like I can do better, and it’s great to have coaches that feel that way, also, and work with you every day to get you better and to the next level." "It’s not bad hitting in a lineup around Shea McFeely, Cole Gillespie and Mitch Canham, either," he adds sheepishly. And while the injury bug has held the Beavers back somewhat this year, with center fielder Tyler Graham out until recently and Gipson trying to get back into form after breaking his wrist, both Rowe and Casey believe the best is yet to come for OSU. "We’re all really pumped up these days," says Rowe. "We’ve had to deal with some adversity so far this season, but just in the last few weeks we’ve realized what we’re capable of doing, and hopefully that will carry over for the rest of the season." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail No place like home ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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