Knights advance to North Atlantic District Final, Fall to #1 RCSJ-Gloucester

Deptford, NJ (May 22, 2021) – The Northern Essex Community College baseball team defeated #2 nationally ranked RCSJ-Cumberland for the second time in as many days by a 14-6 final on Saturday morning, before falling to #1 nationally ranked RCSJ-Gloucester in the District Championship round. The Knights sit with a 22-12 overall record and will await word on a possible at-large birth to the NJCAA World Series. The Knights will be one of six teams in contention for two at-large births which will be announced by the NJCAA baseball committee. 

Game 1

The Knights never trailed against the Dukes as they jumped out to 5-0 lead after the first inning. With one out, the Knights loaded the bases. Clay Campbell (Goffstown, NH) knocked in Nick White (Townsend) and Jared Coppola (Lynn) would score on a fielder's choice from Chris Presinal (Sudbury). It was the first of four RBI's in the morning for Presinal. Joe Muzio (Rockport) ripped a double to right that scored Logan Burrill (Amesbury). Kameron Levesque (Hooksett, NH) would conclude the first ining scoring barrage with an RBI single that scored Presinal and Muzio.

White led off the second with a home run to right to give NECC a 6-0 lead before Cumberland plated three runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Knights would expand the lead to 7-3 in the fourth on a two out line drive to left from Burrill that scored Coppola.

NECC would take a 7-5 lead to the seventh inning before they plated seven additional runs over the final three innings. Hunter Wilichoski (Hamilton) lined a one out single to left that scored Campbell who led the inning off with a single to center. White led off the eighth with a single and would come around to score and a passed ball. Burrill came around to score on a single from Presinal after reaching with a one out walk.

The Knights added four runs in the ninth, all with two outs as Campbell drove in Levesque and Duval with a double down the left field line. Campbell and Coppola would come around to score on a single to right by Presinal.

On the mound, Ronnie Luke (Malden) started and went two innings, striking out two, walking one while allowing three runs on three hits. Dallas Vaughan (Haverhill) came on and pitched 5 1/3 of strong relief to get the win, allowing two runs on eight hits, striking out two not allowing a walk. Tristan Ciapma (Wilmington) pitched the final1 2/3 allowing one run on two hits.

Game 2

The Roadrunners jumped out to an early 7-0 advantage in the first and the Knights weren't able to get back into the game as they trailed 21-1 after five innings and lost by a 22-4 final.

Eight different pitchers took to the mound for the Knights allowed 22 runs on 23 hits, walking seven and striking out three

Duval and White each recorded two hits apiece as part of a nine hit Knights offense in the game.