Five pitchers, including two hard-throwers from Cal Poly and returning right-handers Payton Robertson and Adison Mattix, highlight the latest commitments to the Nanaimo NightOwls for the coming season.
Caden Pearlman, a lefty, and righty Paul Montgomery from Cal Poly are expected to be premium arms for Pitching Coach Gorm Heimueller and Head Coach Greg Frady. Robertson, a starter last summer, and Mattix, a valuable reliever, are joined by Canadian right-hander Armaan Drar of Texas-Permian Basin.
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The hitters announced today are Taiwanese infielder Hsu He-Chieh, from Fu Jen Catholic University, and high-tools outfielder Deshon Thomas of Arizona Christian, who has plus speed, a power bat and a big arm.
RHP Payton Robertson, Arizona Christian, 6-2/195, Lynden, WA
OF Deshon Thomas, Arizona Christian, 6-2/200,
RHP Adison Mattix, Everett CC, 6-4/200, Everett, WA
LHP Caden Pearlman, Cal Poly SLO, 6-3/200, San Diego
RHP Paul Montgomery, Cal Poly SLO, 6-4/215, San Jose, CA
RHP Armaan Drar, Texas-Permian Basin, 6-1/165, North Vancouver
IF Hsu He-Chieh, Fu Jen Catholic (Taiwan), 5-8/155
Robertson made eight starts for the NightOwls in 2023, going 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA and walking just 11 batters in 41.2 innings, tops on the team. Mattix appeared in nine games, with one start, giving up just 10 hits in 16 innings.
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Pearlman, a freshman and business major, helped La Costa Canyon HS to multiple championships before signing with Cal Poly. Coach Frady will get along with Montgomery, a power righty — he’s an avid pickleball player, and Frady is a U.S. Open pickleball champion.
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Drar is a freshman from the North Shore Twins, now in Texas — known for his high compete level. Infielder Hsu He-Chieh is a slick fielder with defensive versatility who bats from the left side and can play multiple roles for Coach Frady.
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Thomas, another Nanaimo recruit from Arizona Christian, is an intriguing outfielder, a right-handed hitter with size and speed who can play all three outfield spots, and is rarely caught on the basepaths. Thomas has the power to be a consistent long ball threat for the NightOwls, too.
