OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Raging Tide manager Chris “CT” Torres is missing in the home dugout at The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach. It’s not a surprise, however, as Tide owners John and Pam Gallo knew before the season that Torres’ wife was expecting the couple’s first child, with a due date during the season.

The Gallos also knew who would take care of their team on the field in Torres’ absence, and it’s someone that Torres ”“ and now the Gallos ”“ knows he can trust.

Enter assistant coach Mike Tarry, who is new to the team, but not to Torres. Tarry was an assistant coach of Torres in high school, and the two have stayed close ”“ both in baseball and in life ”“ ever since.

“I don’t got to worry about anything,” Torres said of Tarry managing in his absence. “He’s going to teach them what they need to know, and he’s an asset to have, as far as pitching goes and just knowing baseball altogether. I’m not worried to go back home when my wife gives birth, because I know the team is in good hands with Mike.”

The primary reason Torres brought in Tarry this season was to look over an enigmatic pitching staff. The Tide didn’t have a pitching coach last season ”“ Torres, a former minor league and independent league catcher, did most of those duties ”“ and that part of the game is Tarry’s specialty.

“Hopefully, I can show these pitchers a thing or two,” Tarry said before the season.

Tarry, who calls himself a baseball lifer, learned the ropes of being a pitching coach from one of the best in the game right now. Tarry, at one point, was the assistant pitching coach at Vero Beach High School in Florida ”“ Torres’ alma mater. The head pitching coach at the time was Derek Lilliquist, who is now the pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.

“Great guy ”“ great guy to learn from,” Tarry said of Lilliquist. “It was just a great experience.”

While Tarry picked up a few pitching pointers from Lilliquist, he also learned the game from another major league coach ”“ the late San Francisco Giants minor league instructor Victor Torres ”“ Chris’ father.

“He was a great guy. He coached me, Chris, his brother,” Tarry said of the elder Torres. “It’s a good baseball family.”

Tarry said because of the lineage, he always knew the younger Torres would become a manager, even if not this soon.

Now that Torres is away from the team for a short while, Tarry gets to step into those shoes; a position in which the co-owner of a sports pub in Vero Beach didn’t envision himself just a few months ago.

“Chris said, ”˜Hey, you’re one of the better coaches I’ve ever known. Do you want to deal with me?’” recalled Tarry, “and I said, ”˜Heck, yeah.’

“I’m a baseball guy. I love the game, and I’m really excited to be here.”

The early returns on Tarry’s temporary managing career should encourage Torres, the Gallos and Raging Tide fans, as the team was 2-0 under Tarry after a home win over the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs on Tuesday.

Torres might be missing from the Raging Tide dugout for the time being, but he’s not sweating over the team he had to leave, and the team doesn’t have to sweat over life without him.

They’re in good hands.

— Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or sports@journaltribune.com. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.