It was June 1, the Starfires versus the Norwich Sea Unicorns in the fourth game of the season. In the third inning, with Westfield leading 2-0, Norwich got two runners on after a double and a single. On the mound, Nathan Pirog snagged a comeback grounder and threw the ball to second to begin a 1-6-3 double play as the shutout remained intact.
Pirog went on to throw five innings in his start, allowing just four hits and zero runs in what was the best outing from a Starfires starting pitcher up to that point in the season.
The southpaw grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, playing all four years at his local high school, Bristol Central. He played summer ball for the Bell City Barnstormers, the Bristol Shock in the Connecticut Twilight League, and the Downunder Travellers in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Pirog earned his fair share of high school accolades, including a three-time varsity letter for baseball, a two-time CCC All-Conference Selection, a CAHSCA All-State Baseball Selection, and a Central Connecticut Conference Championship at Bristol High School.
In his senior season, he was the ace of the staff at Bristol High, going 6-0 with a 1.35 earned run average and 86 strikeouts.
Pirog also played soccer growing up, but eventually decided on baseball as his future collegiate sport.
“I got to a point around my sophomore year where I was doing better in baseball at the time,” he mentioned.
The 6’2” pitcher began to get looks for college in his junior year of high school; however, he was a bit limited due to his presumed major. Pirog was planning on going into the field of architecture.
“I have always wanted to be part of the building design process and had an interest in art and computer classes,” he said. “I think there were only five schools in the Northeast with an architecture major, and I eventually came down to Keene State, University of Hartford, and Rochester Institute of Technology.”
Eventually, Pirog landed at Keene State with his aforementioned architecture major.
“I felt like it was the right fit academically and athletically, and it was a good balance with school and baseball,” he said.
In his freshman season on the mound, Pirog was a member of a Keene State team that finished above .500 for the first time since 2012, ending the season with a 25-17 overall record and a 13-3. The Owls won the Little East regular season and conference tournament, for a trip to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 12 seasons.
Pirog himself made 10 appearances on the rubber and eight starts to accumulate 33 total innings with a 6.55 ERA, which was fourth on the team and the best among freshmen. He had an impressive 42 strikeouts to place third on the Owls.
Pirog got his first appearance on March 1 in a game against Stockton. His best game came in a start against Western New England on April 2, where he tossed six innings, allowing just four hits, no runs, and punching out eight batters. Three weeks later, against Springfield, Pirog set a career high with nine strikeouts, and in his final appearance on the season, he fanned eight on April 30 against Worcester State.
However, the Bristol native still didn’t have a place to play in the summer, so he talked with Owls head coach Justin Blood, who ended up contacting the Starfires. The Starires have had quite a few Keene State players on their roster the past few seasons, including third-year Starfire Jake Jachym, who was the ace pitcher for Keene State this past season.
Pirog was added as a late addition to the Starfires roster, and Westfield has been lucky to have him. After his winning start against the Sea Unicorns, Pirog added two other solid starts to his resume.
On June 7, he pitched five innings against the Vermont Lake Monsters, allowing one run for a no-decision against one of the most prolific offenses in the FCBL. He turned in another start of 5.1 innings of two-run ball against the Nashua Silver Knights on June 14.
“Nate is a silent killer on the mound,” said Starfires pitching coach Ben Farber. “In three starts, we’ve seen him bend but never break. He pitches with conviction and belief in his stuff and maintains his approach even in tight situations.”
Across the season, Pirog has logged 15.1 innings, allowing just three earned runs. His 1.76 ERA is second-best in the league and nearly a quarter of what it was his freshman year at Keene State, despite facing all the Division I and Division II players in the FCBL.
“My best asset is my consistency and mental toughness,” Pirog said. “I stay coachable and compete no matter what. I also haven’t missed my spots this summer, which was something I struggled with my freshman season at Keene State.”
Playing for the Starfires has been an incredible experience for the young hurler.
“It’s a competitive environment, and the staff lets you show your craft, and they will fix your issues,” he said about the coaching staff. “You are playing your own game, and they help you make adjustments along the way.”
Pirog is playing with two teammates from Keene State, Jachym and Jonathan Chatfield, both of whom have played big roles for the Starfires. Jachym has been a consistent starter in the rotation, while Chatfield is an everyday player in the starting lineup and leading the team in home runs and runs batted in.
“Jake [Jachym] has been a big role model for me with all the encouragement and experience he provides,” Pirog said. “Josh Frometa also has a big impact on the team and myself. He is always giving out high-fives and is a big energy guy too.”
As a career, Pirog wants to do something with his architecture major. He also mentioned that he is picking up a second major in construction management as well.
For his advice for young players, Pirog says to put work in the weight room, film your mechanics, keep your grades up, and be a great teammate.
“Coaches recruit character just as much as they recruit talent,” he says. “Be a great teammate. Failure is going to happen, but it’s how you respond afterwards.”
Through his mental toughness, his poise on the mound, Pirog is destined for success in both the classroom and on the diamond as he looks to help the Starfires get back into the playoff picture.
Starfires fans can expect to see Pirog on the mound again this Saturday, June 21, against the Vermont Lake Monsters, where he is the probable starter.
