Mike Parmentier’s baseball career reached a major transition on Wednesday. The Nansemond River senior star pitcher signed to play baseball for Norfolk State University during a ceremony at Nansemond River High School.

“It means a lot,” Parmentier said. “I’ve been working towards this my whole entire life, and I’m glad to finally make it.”

He said the dream to play college ball probably started when he 4, playing in the Bennett’s Creek Little League.

Thirteen years later, he is one of the top pitchers on the city’s most successful public high school baseball team.

“The last two years, he’s made huge strides on the mound,” Warriors head coach Mark Stuffel said. “He’s always been a big part of the program, but he’s become a big part of everything the last two seasons.”

During that time, the coach had begun to see Parmentier’s potential for playing at the NCAA Division I level.

“Really, the end of the season last year, he started throwing the ball really well, and then over the summer and the fall, without a doubt,” Stuffel said. “His velocity picked up probably five miles an hour, and he’s always had good off-speed stuff.”

He estimated Parmentier tops out at 86 to 87 miles per hour, but probably sits at 83 to 84, and expressed confidence in his ability to contribute quickly to the Division I Spartans.

“I don’t know who else they have coming in there, but in my mind, I think Mike could step in there and help them out a lot” as a freshman, Stuffel said. “I think he could be a starter.”

Additionally, the coach said, “I’m excited to have a player playing in a program that we can actually get out and see.”

Parmentier’s parents, who were on hand for Wednesday’s ceremony, echoed Stuffel’s thoughts, while rejoicing in their son’s accomplishment.

“It’s great,” said Duane Parmentier, Mike’s father. “It’s like you’re just closing one chapter and opening up another chapter. And it’s close to home, so we won’t have to travel.”

Tina Parmentier said the signing was bittersweet “just because it’s come so fast, although he’ll still be close and we can still watch him.”

During his college search, Parmentier had options, but explained why NSU won out over the Virginia Military Institute, Ferrum College and Marymount University.

“I just felt like it was the best fit for me, and the coaches really treated me well, and they made the best offer, and I feel like it’s the right place for me to go,” he said.

Parmentier, a two-year letterman in baseball, said his strong senior year and Division I future came about through hard work in the winter and spring and “also the great team that I have behind me to back me up throughout every play and after every pitch I throw.”