Obituary of Erik Daniel Mattingly

Erik Daniel Mattingly, 33, of Englewood, passed away unexpectedly on May 6, 2023. He was born November 24, 1989, in Phoenix, the son of Greg Mattingly and Linda Mattingly. The family later moved back to Colorado where they made their home in Lakewood. After graduating from Bear Creek High School, Erik went on to pursue his education and love of baseball at Garden City Community College, and later Creighton University.

Erik began his official baseball career with T-Ball, prior to that you could always find Erik out in the backyard throwing the ball up in the air with his right hand and swinging left. Once he ran out of wiffle balls he moved on to golf balls and hit his first over-the-fence homerun through the neighbor’s window. This was also how a right-handed kid taught himself to hit left.

Erik played competitive baseball through high school, he enjoyed traveling out of state to play tournaments in Cooperstown-NY, Orlando-FL, and other locations across the nation. Erik was a righthanded pitcher, outfielder, shortstop, and a left-handed slugger at Bear Creek High School and signed with the Bronc Busters at Garden City Community College (GCCC) in Kansas. In his first season with GCCC, Erik was named to All-Western Division Team and subsequently named to the NJCAA AllAmerican First Team Honor a year later. He was named KJCCC player of the week twice in one month.

Erik signed with Creighton University where he was named the Louisville Slugger Player of the Week, a national honor, after he threw 9.0 innings without surrendering a hit and striking out three in his start. This set a new TD Ameritrade Park/Omaha record, putting together the longest no-hitter to start a game.

Erik did not take the summer off, rather he played a summer with the Rochester Honkers of the Northwoods League where he enjoyed living with his host family, the Maxwells, in Minnesota.

Erik’s love of playing baseball was unwavering, he was the consummate team player, humble and always supportive of his teammates.

After college, Erik settled back in Lakewood, Colorado where he continued playing ball switching to coed softball playing on multiple teams with close friends, including his cousin. Erik also became an avid golfer, swinging right-handed to not interfere with his baseball/softball swing.

Erik will most be remembered for his quick smile, big hugs, and infectious laugh. He paired that with genuine kindness and selflessness towards his friends and family, always maintaining a humble demeanor. Erik is survived by his father, Greg Mattingly, stepfather Timothy Zeman, brother Kyle Mattingly (Stacy), stepbrother Nic Zeman (Sydney), stepsister Peyton Zeman, grandparents Daniel & Virginia Rome, uncles Randy Mattingly, Mike Mattingly, Patrick Rome (Shawna), aunts Lisa James (Ed), Denise DeBroy (James), Terri Librande (Mark),first cousins Joseph Mattingly, Krista Kent, Aaron Tamulis (Anabel), Courtney Kellogg, Daniel Rome, and Garrett Rome, as well as extended family members and many close friends.

Erik was predeceased by his mother, Linda Mattingly, grandparents, Gerald “Jerry” and Gayle Mattingly, step-grandparents, Carl and Bobbi Zeman and uncle, Larry James.

A celebration of life will be held at 6pm on June 5th, at Hudson Gardens – The Inn, 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, CO 80120. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the following: National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, https://www.npcf.us Pancreatic Cancer Research – https://www.pancan.org In support of mental health - WellPower https://wellpower.org