Former Nansemond River High School baseball standout Mike Parmentier had an injury-riddled junior season in college but is ready to bounce back.

Junior year at Norfolk State University was a tough one for the 2014 Warrior graduate. He suffered a torn latissimus dorsi muscle that ended his season. The Spartan admits that it wasn’t necessarily the injury that was difficult but rather the fact he couldn’t be out there to help his teammates and build on his sophomore season.

During his sophomore season, he posted a 1-3 record with a 4.12 ERA and four saves. In 22 appearances, which included three starts, he struck out 75 batters in 59 innings pitched. That number ranked him second in the MEAC and 14th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (11.44). He was third in the MEAC in strikeouts and tied for third in the conference in saves. In MEAC-only games during the regular season, Parmentier was 1-0 with three saves and a 0.61 ERA in eight appearances. He allowed just one earned run in 14.2 innings pitched against MEAC North foes.

Those numbers helped Parmentier become a second-team All-MEAC performer as a relief pitcher. He was also an All-MEAC tournament team performer as well. Those number provided an understandable amount of optimism heading into his junior year this past spring. The injury was a setback the former Warrior had to overcome.

“It was pretty tough,” he said. “Not so much the injury, but knowing I wouldn’t be able to help the team achieve the overall goal of winning a MEAC title.”

Parmentier went through a rehab process after his injury. After the injury didn’t get better, he was shut down for the season. He is hoping to get a redshirt year for missing his junior season due to an injury.

He admitted, though, coming into his junior year he couldn’t let the accolades of his sophomore season get to his head. He knew if he did, it was going to affect how he prepared for his next season. Now, he is hoping to keep that same mindset as he prepares for his next season.

“You have to stay humble and have the same drive day in and day out to be better than the year before,” he said. “You aren’t always guaranteed to be as good as you were the year before. It sucks I wasn’t able to build off of my sophomore campaign, but I plan on coming back stronger than before.”

The injury was the first major injury of Parmentier’s baseball career. It helped remind him to approach every game like it could be his last.

“I have to appreciate the opportunity I have to still play this game that others don’t,” he said. “I just can’t take it for granted.”

Parmentier is hoping in the spring that he can help NSU bring home a MEAC championship for the first time in the school’s history.

At Nansemond River, Parmentier earned first-team All-Ironclad Conference honors and was honorable mention All-4A South Region as a senior for the Warriors.