WESTFIELD, Massachusetts (May 15, 2024) – The Westfield Starfires have filled out their coaching staff for the 2024 season, naming Nate Cormier as hitting coach, Joe Colucci as bench coach, and Scott Ross as assistant coach, manager Paul Bonfiglio announced on Tuesday, May 14.

“This is a strong group of hard-working baseball coaches. They’re going to make a difference. They’re mature guys, which is very important to me. They’re also very intelligent, analytical guys, who won’t have emotion lead their teaching,” Bonfiglio said.

Cormier is currently an assistant coach on the staff at the University of Saint Joseph in Connecticut, where he helped lead the Blue Jays to a 2023 GNAC Tournament appearance. A standout at Nichols College, he owns top-five spots in 10 categories in Bison history including leading the program in at-bats with 580 and assists with 404 and placing second in runs with 121, doubles with 39, and steals with 56. He earned three Commonwealth Coast Conference All-Conference honors and was a two-time ABCA/Rawlings All-New England selections.

Additionally, Cormier is familiar with the FCBL landscape; he spent the 2018 and 2020 seasons with Nashua and the 2019 and 2021 seasons with Pittsfield. Across 85 games he racked up 61 hits and 36 RBI, scoring 32 times and stealing 20 bases in 22 tries.

“This league provides amazing experiences. I have played and coached in the league and I have seen players take tremendous leaps in their baseball endeavors. I’m excited to help these players reach towards that ring at the end of the year,” Cormier said.

Colluci spent four seasons at Emerson College before using an additional year of eligibility to compete at Milligan University in 2023. In 59 games with Emerson he posted a .286/.382/.434 slash line, gathering 50 hits including 15 for extra bases in 59 games. Between his junior and senior campaigns he hit .324 for the Lions. He has a master’s degree in coaching and sports management, and is driveline certified in both hitting and pitching.

"I'm beyond excited to kick off this season coaching for the Westfield Starfires! The Futures League is an incredible showcase of top-tier college talent from across the country. This season ahead is going to be a great one as we take this talent and passion to achieve great things on the field," Colluci said.

Ross is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and brings a plethora of coaching experience to the staff. He coached at Inside Corner for seven years and has been with the GBG Northeast Hawks for five seasons, serving as a head coach for multiple teams; currently he coaches the program’s 14U team. He also is the assistant varsity coach at Franklin High School as well as the head coach of the school’s freshman/sophomore team, and previously coached with Bonfiglio in Wayland.

“I am extremely excited to be coaching in the Futures League this summer with the Starfires. I am very thankful for the opportunity and to work with a great coach like Coach Bonfiglio again. Can’t wait to experience some Bullens Magic,” Ross said.

The Starfires kick off 2024 with Kids Opening Day on Friday, May 24, while Opening Weekend is Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1. Season tickets as well as flex packs and single-game tickets for all home games are on sale at westfieldstarfires.com.