Co-Owner and CEO of the Highwheelers baseball team, playing out of Marysville’s Bryant Park, speaks to rotary members. Photo by Seti Long

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Gridley’s Rotary International Club had the pleasure of hearing from guest speaker, Lon Hatamiya, President and CEO of The Hatamiya Group and co-Owner of the Yuba-Sutter Highwheelers.

Hatamiya’s boasts an extensive and highly impressive resume and laundry list of accomplishments, but his heart and soul remain loyal to baseball.

Hatamiya has roots in Gridley, growing up on the outskirts of town on a farm located off of Hwy 70. His son was even born here. He recounted for the Gridley Rotarians his experience using Bryant Park for his Eagle Scout project, rebuilding the wooden bleachers there. Later Hatamiya would play baseball on the diamond and coach his children there.

Although Hatamiya’s journey led him far and wide, he has returned to the area bringing with him a baseball team with serious talent and energy.

The Highwheelers, originally from Davis, quickly made their mark in the Yuba-Sutter Area. Players on the roster have been signed with MLB teams and others are currently being scouted by organizations. And Hatamiya is excited!

“This is the best baseball that this area has ever seen. We’ve never seen this high level of minor league baseball, and we wanted to bring it to you,” said the CEO.

Hatamiya touched on the renovations made to Bryant Park, home of the Highwheelers, since he has been involved.

Originally built in 1937, it has the distinction of being one of the oldest baseball stadiums in the state of California, according to Hatamiya. Baseball greats such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig have played in the area back in the 1920’s, and legends such as Jackie Robinson and Joe Demaggio even played at Bryant Park in the 40’s and 50’s.

Not only has the stadium been retrofitted with new technology, such as pitching clocks, family friendly entertainment has been added between innings to keep the momentum going. Fireworks displays are held every Friday and Hatamiya says owners are looking at ways to shorten game times, so families aren’t out so late during the evening games.

Hatamiya invites everyone to come out and see what is happening with the Highwheelers.

Although the 2025 season just ended, check them out online at highwheelers.com.