WESTFIELD, Massachusetts (April 17, 2024) – The Westfield Starfires have named Zach Gitschier their pitching coach for the upcoming 2024 season, manager Paul Bonfiglio announced on Wednesday, April 17.

“Coach Gitschier brings a well-established Futures League championship track record. His exposure to well-coached programs in his collegiate career have accelerated his knowledge of pitching and systems. In addition, his personality and professionalism make him someone our players can quickly gain trust with. We’re excited to bring him aboard,” said Bonfiglio.

“I am extremely honored and excited to be named the pitching coach of the Starfires. The Futures League has always been my home during the summer and to be able to give back so much knowledge that I have learned throughout my playing career is special. [I’m] looking forward to seeing what Bullens Magic is all about and bringing home a ring to Westfield,” Gitschier said.

Gitschier comes to Westfield with extensive experience in collegiate baseball and in the FCBL. He was a key piece of the 2022 Nashua Silver Knights FCBL Championship. Across two seasons with the Silver Knights, he made 37 appearances, throwing 45 innings and posting a 3.00 ERA with 57 strikeouts.

In the NCAA, he made 19 appearances over parts of four seasons at Clark University before transferring as a graduate student to Southern New Hampshire University, where he has made 19 appearances and struck out 30.

Gitschier is earning his doctoral degree in education from SNHU and will obtain that this spring.