Incubator Helps Bixler Develop New Product

Published in the Northwestern News on September 4, 2003.

An idea born in a Woods County wheat field a decade ago has turned into a revolutionary piece of baseball equipment and has spawned a new manufacturing business for Oklahoma.

American Iron Sports, LLC teamed up with the Center for Business Development at Northwestern to develop a company that has grown from four to more than 90 employees and now conducts business across the country and overseas.

Matthew Bixler, founder and manager of American Iron Sports, was the basis for invention of “The Natural” Pitcher Helper.

Bixler was a developing pitcher a decade ago when his father, Dick Bixler, in an effort to help his son’s budding baseball career, invented the machine.

“The Natural” not only catches the pitches thrown by a hurler, but it also indicates whether a pitch was a strike or a ball.

As Bixler developed and worked with the machine, it developed in scope and versatility.

Following a career with Phillip Morris, he combined his management experience with his talent for baseball, and began manufacturing “The Natural” through his company, American Iron Sports.

A native of Alva, Bixler looked for local support of his business and found it at the Business Incubator managed by Northwestern’s Center for Business Development. Director Dr. Patti Wilber, along with staff of the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center, Bill Gregory and Jeanne Cole, assisted Bixler with a business and marketing plan.

“The current success of my company is due to the success and support given to me by Northwestern and Dr. Wilber,” Bixler said. “I would encourage any new business to use the Business Incubator to build their business.”

As business grew, so did the need for more manufacturing space and manpower. Lawrence Beliel and Chris Evans with Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City introduced Bixler to Prism Powder Coating and Precision Tool and Die to help with building the products. Later, Greg Niesen, owner of Precision Tool and Die, suggested Bixler partner with Action Centralized Buying of Ponca City to help with sales and other business aspects of the operation.

Bixler has now headquartered his operation in Ponca City and his workforce has grown to more than 90 employees.

Bixler also is involved in designing and building baseball complexes across the nation.

“Having the right information in the beginning and the support of my mother, Lisa, has brought me to where I am today,” Bixler said.

For more information on Northwestern’s Center for Business Development, contact Dr. Patti Wilber at (580) 327-8506.