The Fortuna native and former Crabs player and assistant will lead the team into its historic 70th season
ARCATA (Feb. 3, 2014) — The Humboldt Crabs are pleased to announce former player and assistant coach Tyson Fisher has accepted the managerial position for the Crabs 70th anniversary season. Fisher has been the head baseball coach at Fortuna High School since 2011. He was an assistant coach for the Crabs for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
“We are very pleased to find such a well qualified local individual to take on this critical job,” said Crabs Board President Vikki Rossi. “Tyson comes to the position with ample coaching experience, but more importantly has demonstrated his ability to relate to and get the best out of young ball players.”
Fisher was a standout infielder at South Dakota State University, graduating with a Social Sciences degree in 2008. Fisher had a 19-game hitting streak for the Jackrabbits and was ranked in the top 10 in nine NCAA Division I hitting and offensive categories. His involvement in the Humboldt County includes various high school coaching assignments in both baseball and basketball.
Long-time manager Matt Nutter leaves the organization after eight successful years at the helm of the Crabs. During that time, Nutter compiled a .777 overall record with 328-94 win-loss record while also leading the team to both Far West League and tournament playoff championships the last four years.
Nutter explained that after a discussion with his family, he decided after 23 years with the Crabs organization that this was a good time to take a break. “My daughters are nearing the time when they will go off to college and I haven’t had a summer with the family in a very long time,” Nutter said.
“The Crabs want to thank Matt for all his years not only as the manager, but as a former board member. Fortunately, Matt had warned us the past two years that he might make this kind of decision and he decided that this was the opportune time, especially after his phenomenal success as our skipper,” Rossi said.
In the meantime, Fisher expressed his eagerness to complete his staff appointments and begin planning for opening day against the Fairfield Indians on Saturday, May 31. He will get his first glimpse of his team when players begin arriving the week before the 70th anniversary season begins.
In addition, long-time head coach and Crabs player recruiter Robin Guiver has chosen not to return this summer as Crabs head coach in order to spend more time with his recently-born son. Guiver will continue in his role as the Crabs player recruiter. Since the team recruitment process continues often up to the week or two prior to the season opener, Guiver will finish the recruitment process in consultation with new manager Fisher.
Guiver has been with the Crabs for 16 years, first as a star pitcher from Washington State University, then as an assistant coach, camp coordinator, head coach and player recruiter.
“It was wonderful for our program to have had someone as experienced and capable as Robin for as long as we did as the head coach. He is doing another great job recruiting for us again this year and he will be missed this summer,” Rossi said.
In the meantime, the 2014 schedule and special events schedule are confirmed and will be released on the Crabs Facebook page and website.
The 2014 schedule shows some of the former Far West League teams will be returning to Humboldt this season. The Colt 45s, Menlo Park Legends and the Walnut Creek Crawdads will all be back to the Arcata ballpark. The Crabs will also travel to play the Neptune Beach Pearl at the end of June during a weeklong road trip to the Bay Area. The 2013 NBC World Series Champions – and long-time Crabs rival – the Seattle Studs return to Arcata on Father’s Day weekend as they celebrate their 60th season.
“2014 will definitely be another exciting summer of Crabs baseball,” Rossi said. “I’m really excited for our 70th anniversary, Alumni weekend starting on July 4 and all the exciting special events we have planned for this year. ”
