LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. - Scott Mathieson has been to the show.

He’s made it to the pinnacle of his sport.

But there’s something about high school baseball that appeals to this former Philadelphia Phillie.

“It’s pure, you know, you’re playing for the love of the game,” he said.

Mathieson helped spread the love at Academy at the Lakes as their pitching coach. The Wildcats baseball team made history this year, advancing to the regional quarterfinals  for the first time. Mathieson helped propel them to new levels.

“Being able to to just teach us anything and everything, being able to answer any questions we have, just definitely a great asset to our team,” senior pitcher Josiah Bayona said.

Mathieson brings some street cred to his position with the Wildcats. And some motivation.

“All the experiences that he’s gone through, makes us want to go through it,” junior pitcher Tanner Pelaez said. “So it makes us work harder and keep pushing to get better.”

Experiences? Mathieson’s been through it all. He made his major league debut in 2006 with the Phillies against Tampa Bay. A series of injuries, including Tommy John surgery, cut his major league career short. But it made way for eight seasons in the Professional Baseball league in Japan.

“It took me five years through the minor leagues to get called up, but getting that first call, it was just a dream,” Mathieson said. “In my whole life, it’s all I ever dreamed about.”

And that dream isn’t over. Mathieson plans to suit up for Team Canada in the summer Olympics. He’s got a qualifying game at the end of the month.

“I’m just excited to be able to put the jersey on, feel the butterflies going out on the field again and just be in competition one more time,” he said.

He’s been practicing, against his high school players. They say he can still bring it.

“Oh yes he can,” Bayona said. “I faced him twice and it was not fun.”

Mathieson’s having fun. Working with the high school players has brought back some fond childhood memories. And helped renew a love of the sport.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I enjoyed it and I loved it,” Mathieson said. “There’s some great kids on the team and it was fun to watch them get better and just kind of come together as a team.

“It’s a game that I’ve always loved my whole life. I was fortunate enough to be able to play in it but I think my passion for it, just my love of the game and this kind of kept me in it.”