Tayler Rowe was high on the list of Werribee Giants’ recruiting priorities in the off-season.
The Giants called on some big guns to get the homegrown starting pitcher to return to the club for a tilt at a Baseball Victoria summer league division 2 premiership.
Head coach Justin Charles put the call out, as did the much-respected Phil Balzer, but the person who got their target to put pen to paper was one of the playing leaders and a long-time Rowe friend, Michael Riches.
After numerous phone calls and text messages, Riches got his man.
According to Rowe, Riches “was the main one”.
“He was always hounding me at the start of every season, messaging me flat out, calling me through the season,” Rowe said.
“I thought, all right – I’ll give it a crack and go back.”
One of the biggest lures for Rowe was the chance to play in the same team as Riches once more.
But on the eve of the season, Riches was tragically killed in a road accident.
The loss remains fresh in the minds of Giants players and supporters, who continue to get emotional about losing one of the most respected people at the club.
They are using baseball as a tool to help them through the grieving process and doing what Riches would want them to be doing – going out every Sunday afternoon and giving their all to pick up wins.
Rowe would give anything to have Riches back in the team and would trade “1000” wins on the mound to have his friend back.
“It sucks not having him there,” Rowe said. “He was a good guy, a really good guy – there’s not anyone that could say anything bad about him. He was spot on.
“This season was going to be the best season he was going to play. He never trained so hard for baseball, ever.
“We’re all doing it for him this season – we all want to make him proud.”
Rowe will have a massive role to play for the Giants.
The 25-year-old will share the major pitching duties – both starting and closing – with youngster Wes De Jong.
“It’s all up to the coach,” said Rowe, who returned to Werribee after a stint with Sunshine in the summer league and with Bacchus Marsh in winter ball. Rowe expects to have his best season yet on the mound as he links up with catcher Oliver Box.
The pair grew up playing baseball together and are certainly on the same wavelength during matches.
“I haven’t had a connection with any catcher I pitched to other than ‘Boxy’,” Rowe said.
“We connect really well; we don’t have to say much, we know what we’re doing. He’s got a lot of experience and it makes it a lot easier, knowing you’ve got someone on the same level.”
The Giants made it four wins on the trot on Sunday when they edged out Springvale 3-2 at Presidents Park.
They will face the Vales again on Thursday in the early 6.30pm game at Melbourne Ball Park.
On Sunday, from 3.30pm, the Giants will take on Berwick City at Werribee No.3 diamond.
