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Rowley realizes a dream

Dayne Rowley, center, always wanted to play baseball for Metro State. He signed a National Letter of Intent with the Roadrunners last week alongside his parents Darren and Kari Rowley and former Durango High School head coach Rob Coddington, back right.

Dayne Rowley knew exactly where he wanted to go to college, and he’s worked for three-and-a-half years to make it happen.

Rowley, a senior at Durango High School, signed a National Letter of Intent last week to play baseball and attend Metropolitan State University in Denver.

“I’ve been looking at Metro my whole high-school career and really liked it,” said Rowley, son of Darren and Kari Rowley. “I love the feeling of Denver and the big city. I’m really excited about playing there.”

Rowley, a 6-5, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, posted a 1-1 record in six appearances for the Demons as a junior. He went on to have a successful summer season playing Connie Mack baseball in Farmington.

“Dayne’s a big kid, throws hard and has a tremendous amount of upside,” former DHS head coach Rob Coddington said. “Metro will be a good place for him with good coaches.”

Fourth-year head coach Jerrid Oates’ Metro State Roadrunners went 14-29 and finished last in the Plains Division of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference a year ago. That came one season after a 20-27-4 campaign in 2013.

Rowley is anxious to get to the facilities in Auraria.

“They just put a brand new field and clubhouse in. It’s really nice,” he said.

Rowley’s older brother, Danny, also plays college baseball. After two years of junior college ball at Eastern Arizona College, Rowley now plays catcher for Missouri State.

The older Rowley provided plenty of advice to his kid brother during the recruiting process.

“He said ‘Don’t take anything for granted. Cherish everything as it comes and don’t let anything overwhelm you,’” Dayne Rowley said. “He’s been supportive the whole way. My parents and my brother are always helping make me a better player.”

After playing in pressure environments such as the state tournament final four and the Connie Mack City Tournament in Farmington, Rowley believes he is ready to pitch at the Division II level.

“It’s all definitely prepared me for this moment a lot. The competition in Farmington is real tough, and I love playing in that atmosphere,” Rowley said. “I’ve been watching RMAC baseball my whole life. (Colorado Mesa) is a great team and there are a few other teams in the league that provide really good competition. I can’t wait.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com



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