More Canadian content, Hawaii top recruit highlight latest Owl signings

We know the Canadian kids love to come home for the summer and show their stuff.

The Nanaimo NightOwls are proud to announce the signings of six more players, paperwork all completed and plans being made for their debut at Serauxmen Stadium this summer.

The Canadians added have size — outfielder Stephen MacKenzie of University of Texas-Permian Basin, who is from Calgary, versatile corner outfielder/infielder Liam Bushey of Abbotsford, and Vancouver product and infielder Wylie Waters, who is at Bossier Parish in Louisiana. All three check in at 6-3.

“These three guys add a lot of size to the batting order, no question — and we always like adding Canadians,” said GM Jim Swanson. “MacKenzie is going to be a player to watch, he has a lot of speed for a guy of that size, and Bushey just continues to hit from the left side, now batting .365 after a freshman season that saw him hit .427 with five home runs. Waters is also an interesting player, being used as a DH a lot with a strong program.”

MacKenzie played at the University of Calgary and for the Edmonton Prospects in the WCBL, and was an NWAC all-star for Shoreline.

The NightOwls are excited to add highly-recruited outfielder Devin Saltiban, who will attend the University of Hawaii and play for Rich Hill. And an intriguing addition to the roster is pitcher Livio Bundi, who is from Zurich, Switzerland, and a player that coaches Greg Frady and Gorm Heimueller became aware of during a recent coaching trip to Europe.

“Bundi strikes out a lot of guys, that’s his track record, with a heavy fastball,” said Swanson. “It’s great to see players coming from around the world, the World Baseball Classic opened a lot of eyes to how well the game is played outside our continent.”

Rounding out the six announced is 6-4 right-hander Addison Mattix of Everett CC, who was once signed to play D-1 baseball for Hawaii. Mattix pitched in the WCL for Springfield in 2022, seeing action in nine games.