The Fortuna native and former Crab takes Matt Wilson's place, excited to start season
By Ray Hamill
ARCATA (May 8, 2010) — The Crabs didn't have to look very far to fill a big coaching vacancy for 2010, announcing this week that former player Tyson Fisher will join the staff. And the Fortuna native is relishing the opportunity.
"I'm definitely excited about it," he said. "Being a local guy, I've been around the Crabs and I know what they're all about and what they mean to (Humboldt County)."
Fisher, who played for the Crabs in 2006 and is currently an assistant coach at Fortuna High, will primarily work as a hitting coach and joins a staff that includes manager Matt Nutter, head coach Robin Guiver and assistant coach Mike Jordt.
In his one summer with the Crabs, Fisher made 47 appearances, including 40 starts, and batted .328 while hitting a team second-best four home runs and eight doubles. He was scheduled to return to the
Crabs in 2007 before a leg injury ruled him out for the summer. After four strong years at South Dakota State, where he played under North Coast native and former Crabs assistant coach Reggie Christensen, a switch to coaching was a natural next step for Fisher.
"Coaching this year and last year at the high school level has helped," he said. "Just in being able to relate to the guys. You know I'm really enjoying it."
Nutter, who had a vacancy to fill when Matt Wilson left the staff this offseason after three years, didn't hesitate after Christensen recommended Fisher and is looking forward to reuniting with his former player.
"Obviously Tyson being a local guy definitely helps. He knows what the Crabs are about," Nutter said. "We want him to work with our hitters. He played for the team in my first year (as manager) and he was a good
guy for us. He played some first base and some third base. He's going to bring some knowledge to the infield."
Fisher first got into coaching at Fortuna when his former high school, college and Crabs teammate Erik Bess asked him to join him in the dugout.
As a credentialed teacher, Fisher is also enjoying the challenge of switching to the coaching ranks.
"It's nice being able to pass on stuff I learned as a player," he said. "I think alot of the challenge (with the Crabs) will be taking all the different approaches from all the different schools the players come from and trying to work with them. But I'm excited about it."
Fisher was also a three-time first-team all-league selection in the Humboldt-Del Norte League.
