Knights walk-off in extras, claim 7th straight Region XXI title
Haverhill, MA (May 14, 2018) – The Northern Essex Community College baseball team needed a couple of extra innings on Monday afternoon, but a Riley Magee (Windham, NH) base hit in the bottom of the 11th inning scored Ryan Collins (Peabody, MA) from second base after he led the inning off with a single to left field and gave the Knights a 5-4 win over third seeded Quinsigamond. The championship is the 7th straight regional title for the Knights and 8th overall in program history.
NECC jumped out to an early 3-0 after one inning. Ben Irvine (Peobody, MA) got the Knights going in the first as he reached on an error to start the game. He would advance to third on a single by Collins and score one batter later when Alex Almonte (Lawrence, MA) ripped a single to left side. Collins would score on a balk by the pitcher. Almonte scored the third run of the inning on a base hit by Magee.
The Knights would add another run in the fourth as Collins ripped a two out single to left field that scored Nolan Steveens (Wilton, NH) who has reached base on a walk two batters previous.
On the mound Corey Imbriano (Wakefield, MA) had a perfect game going through the first five innings before a bump in the road in the sixth. Quinsigamond loaded the bases with a walk and two singles, before a base hit quickly made the game 4-2. Quinsiagmond would add two more in the frame via a sacrifice and a two out double. For the game Imbriano went nine innings, striking out 11, issuing one walk and 6 hits.
Nick Musto (Londonderry, NH) came on in relief in the 10th inning and allowed a lead off double in the inning, but the Wyverns were unable to score as Musto didn't allow another as the next six batters he faced didn't reach base.
NOTES:
Ryan Collins was named the regional tournament's Most Outstanding Player as he hit .666 at the plate (8-12), scored five runs and had three RBI's.
Northern Essex will now advance to the NJCAA District F series, where they will host Suffolk County (NY) Community College in a best 2 out of 3 series beginning on Friday in Haverhill. Game times for all three games of the series will be announced on Tuesday.
Northern Essex Community College competes as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and sponsors eight varsity intercollegiate sports including baseball, men's basketball, softball, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country and men's and women's track and field. For more information on Northern Essex Community College Athletics please visit the official website of Northern Essex Athletics (http://athletics.necc.mass.edu).
