The coaching staff of the Nanaimo NightOwls, under new head man Cody Andreychuk, is a mix of ages and experience that will serve the players and community in a tremendous manner.
Gorman Heimueller, who has spent 48 years in the game, returns for his fourth year in Nanaimo as Pitching Coach — one of the best pitching coaches in the game, and a true gentleman and ambassador for the game. His time in the game includes two years as a pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, and earning two World Series rings as a minor league pitching coach or coordinator.
Heimueller played college baseball at Cal Poly, with Ozzie Smith as the shortstop, then made it to the MLB level as an undrafted lefthander who used summer baseball to earn notice. He then worked for the Twins, Dodgers, Phillies and Padres in a coaching career that made him one of the best-known pitching instructors in all of baseball, and the NightOwls are very fortunate to have him.
Anthony Houk, 24, is the new Assistant Coach. The former college infielder, from Mount Vernon, Kentucky, is on the University of Pikeville staff with Andreychuk, the local product who is returning home to lead the NightOwls after last week’s announcements.
Hailing from Mount Vernon, KY by way of Rockcastle County High School, Houk was a four-year member of UPIKE baseball starting as a freshman in the 2019 season. In his freshman season, Houk played in 42 games, clubbing 42 hits and 41 RBIs. His opening season performance earned him Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year. In his senior campaign, Houk hit 14 RBIs and scored eight runs in 56 at-bats. He notched 70 hits overall in his career
“I want to thank Sean FitzGerald in particular for his efforts for the past three years — he is a tremendous coach and an even better person, and I don’t think there has ever been a better assistant coach at this level,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner.
“With Greg leading, and Sean always going above and beyond, our first three years have been outstanding from a coaching side, and being able to retain Gorm going forward will be the key bridge in that transition piece to Cody as the head man and Anthony providing so much support to the players.”
The NightOwls were blessed to have the same three men on the coaching staff the first three WCL seasons at historic Serauxmen Stadium — original team Head Coach Greg Frady, with Heimueller and assistant Sean FitzGerald, lending tremendous experience and stability to the start of the franchise.
