Roe doesn't allow opposing hitters to find a comfort zone
CLU pitcher willing to throw inside
By Steve Ames Special to Thousand Oaks Acorn

Mike Roe

California Lutheran University junior right-handed pitcher Mike Roe, a 2004 Simi Valley High graduate, might not blow hitters away with his fastball, but he isn't making anyone comfortable in the batter's box, either.

"I like to throw inside a lot," Roe said. "A lot of times batters get on the plate and cover the outer half. Not too many pitchers throw inside at this level, but on our team we throw a lot of pitches inside because that seems to be the hardest pitch for hitters to hit."

Roe said he usually starts with fastballs inside, so the batter will know he's going to try to come at them. Then Roe may follow with a couple of breaking balls away and then throw a changeup.

"I just try to get them to get themselves out," he said. "I don't try to do too much, just try to make the right pitch in the right situation so they'll be off balance.

"The biggest challenge is I try to hit every spot. The only way to get guys out is to hit your spots, I feel. The other challenges are staying in shape, keeping your arm healthy. That's definitely a big challenge."

Kingsmen head coach Marty Slimak is delighted to have Roe, a transfer from Moorpark College, on the team.

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers ROCK AND FIRE- California Lutheran pitcher Mike Roe rears back and throws a pitch. Roe said making hitters guess is vital to success.

For the Kingsmen this season, Roe has posted a 4-2 record with a 3.58 ERA in six starts and one save in two relief appearances. He's pitched 32.2 innings, has struck out 19 batters, walked five and given up 38 hits.

"He's a great team guy," the coach said. "Always loose. I've never really, so far, seen him depressed. He's always a happy guy, always has a smile on his face, always doing something.

"He's one of our main pitchers in the starting rotation. We're really glad to have him. The best thing about Mike is he throws strikes. He's got three pitches- fastball, curveball, change- that he throws strikes with, and I think it's the biggest plus," Slimak said.

For the 2005 and 2006 Moorpark College Raiders, Roe was 9-12 with one save and had a 6.03 ERA in 137.2 innings pitched. He struck out 94 batters and gave up 40 walks. Roe was named to the Western State Conference honorable mention team in '06.

During 2003 and 2004 for the Simi Valley Pioneers, Roe was 16-5 with a 5.01 ERA and had 142 strikeouts. He carried a 3.39 GPA in high school.

Pitching in the 2004 CIFSouthern Section playoffs, Roe was the winning pitcher in four of the Pioneers' six playoff games, including four innings of relief in a 14-inning quarterfinal game against West Torrance.

In the 2004 CIFSS championship game at Dodger Stadium, Roe pitched six innings, giving up two runs against El Dorado of Placentia as Simi Valley won 5-4.

He was first team All-Marmonte League, first team All-CIF Division II, and was the Daily News Tournament Most Valuable Pitcher.

During Roe's sophomore season in 2006, the CLU coaches went over to Moorpark College and got to see him throw.

"He just got a little bit stronger, a little bit more mature and just had a great sense about him," Slimak said. "That's when we said, 'We'd like to have you here at Cal Lu to be a part of our university, not only to play on the baseball team, but to graduate.'"

At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Roe is an accounting major with a 3.31 college GPA and plans to become a certified public accountant after his baseball career is over.

"Mike's a very good student, so it was kind of a good fit," Slimak said. "It wasn't like we're going to struggle to try to get him in. He had a great GPA, and he's real conscientious about his grades and getting a degree here at Cal Lu."

Roe said the change from high school to Moorpark College to CLU has presented a new challenge with each move up.

At Moorpark College "we were all just kids out of high school," Roe said. "We didn't know what college baseball was like. We had to kind of experience that for ourselves. We had a hard time coming together. We didn't play all that great over there.

"As far as (college) goes," he added, "no matter how I throw they're still going to hit the fastball. In high school it was a lot easier to blow the guys away with the fastball. Here you can't really do that. You have to focus more on location and that's with curveballs and changeups."

The move to playing for the NCAA Division III Kingsmen has been seamless for Roe.

"I love our team," he said. "All the guys get along great, and I love playing with them. When I came I didn't know any of them really, but for maybe two."

Roe, the son of Mike and Vickie, has Mike Young of La Quinta catching for him.

"We communicate very well," Roe said. "I don't have to shake off a lot of pitches. He knows pretty much what I want to throw. A lot of times I am thinking it and he's calling it already, so it's nice."

Slimak agrees.

"He's got a great attitude about everything," he said.

When Roe takes a loss "he kind of puts it behind him and goes on. He doesn't dwell on the negative. He doesn't get too caught up," Slimak said.

With the remainder of this season and next year ahead, Roe is making the most of the opportunity to continue his playing career.

"I just enjoy it," he said. "I'm going to miss it when it's over. I'm going to try and enjoy it while I can- until I have to get out in the real world."