Westfield State senior starting pitcher Shane Bogli (Vernon, Conn./Vernon-Rockville HS) will get a taste of big-time baseball on Wednesday (July 14), when he is slated to start for the Bristol Blues against the Israeli National Baseball team at Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford.
"I'm pumped, I'm excited," said Bogli. "I thought it was cool when it was announced that the Blues would have a chance to play the national team, but I am really happy to get the start. It's something I will remember for the rest of my life, and I want to make the most of it."
The Israel National team is touring the USA in preparation for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Tournament. The team counts a number of former Major and Minor League players on its roster, highlighted by four-time MLB All-Star Ian Kinsler, who hit 257 big-league home runs in a 14-year career that included notable stops with the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers before winning a World Series ring in the 2018 season with the Boston Red Sox.
Another familiar name to New Englanders will be catcher Ryan Lavarnway, who came up with the Red Sox in 2011 and played in beantown until 2014. Lavarnway has played in 10 major league seasons with eight different clubs, including this season with the Cleveland Indians.
"I want to show that (NCAA) D3 guys can go out and compete at the highest levels," said Bogli. "It's a chance to play on the biggest stage, and I'll get a chance to learn about how to pitch to hitters like that, mix pitches to major league hitters."
Bogli has pitched in five games for the Blues this season, tossing eight innings and striking out six.
"I've been a reliever on this team, but a starter at Westfield," said Bogli. "I'm pitching against guys from Oklahoma, LSU, Michigan, a bunch of power five schools. It's been a chance to get better as a pitcher, mostly mentally, learning what pitch to throw win certain counts. I had asked the coaches early in the year if there might be an opportunity to get a couple starts as the season went on, and I am really happy to get the chance to start here."
The Blues play in the NECBL, widely regarded as the top collegiate league in New England outside of Cape Cod.
Bogli posted a 4-1 record in 2021 as the Owls' number one started. In 41 innings he struck out 45 hitters while walking just five.
Bogli has pitched in three seasons for Westfield State after transferring from Division II Post University. He has a 12-6 record with a 3.67 ERA for the Owls in 24 games. He's pitched in big games for the Owls, starting an NCAA playoff game in 2019, and pitching against several nationally ranked teams.
"I've been adjusting to pitching out of the bullpen," said Bogli. "I have a good routine now, and if I had to come out of the pen in a big game for Westfield I'll be ready to do it."
"Shane has been a really good starting pitcher for his over the last few years," said Owls head coach Nathan Bashaw. "He attacks the zone and gives you a chance to win every time he takes the mound. All of this high-profile summer experience in the NECBL is only going to help his development. I'm really excited for him. This is an experience he will remember for the rest of his life, and gets to play in a great minor league stadium against an Olympic team – that's really special."
An education major at Westfield State, Bogli has remaining eligibility to play baseball for the Owls, granted by the NCAA waivers due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which altered the 2020 and '21 seasons.
"I still have to do my student teaching, and I'm going to add a minor in coaching," said Bogli, who wants to be a physical education teacher and coach after graduation.
But first, he'll have to work his way through Israel's Olympic lineup. What if he strikes out one of those big league hitters?
"You'll definitely get a fist pump, and you might hear me scream all the way up in Westfield," said Bogli.
The game is set for a 10:30 a.m. start at Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford, Conn., home of the AAA Hartford Yard Goats. Tickets for the game are available through the Hartford Yard Goats website at https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/team.asp?SponsorID=15046#.YOtPLi2cbox