One of the best pitchers in the West Coast League is returning to The Nest.
All-star Adison Mattix will be back for a third season with the Nanaimo NightOwls. The right-hander from Everett CC made a team-high 10 starts in 2024 and was the only player from the NWAC college baseball conference to be named to the WCL all-star game, where he helped the North Division to victory.
The happiest person with this news is legendary NightOwls pitching coach Gorm Heimueller — and Heimueller’s presence on the staff of new head coach Cody Andreychuk is a major reason Mattix will be spending a third summer with the program in Nanaimo.
“I could not be more excited to have Adison back,” said Heimueller, “and I think this says a lot about the NightOwls and how the whole operation is handled from ownership to the front office to our outstanding trainer, Kyle, to the way the community has embraced this team.
“Adison has progressed a long way since I first met him in 2023 and he’s been a leader. This is a good day for us. I expect him to anchor a strong pitching staff.”
Mattix, a power right-hander at 6-4/200, was 1-2 with a 3.04 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 41.1 innings in 2024. He gave up just 30 hits and two doubles. He was a reliever, making nine appearances, in 2023, striking out 15 batters in 16 innings.
The highlight start in 2024 was an 11-strikeout effort over six innings in a 8-1 home win vs. Kamloops on June 25, that made him the league leader in strikeouts at that point. He gave up three hits and no walks or runs.
