Six Run Eighth Inning Sends Knights to Third Straight Region 21 Championship
With the game tied at two runs apiece in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Northern Essex Community College baseball team plated six runs in the eighth inning to win their third straight Region 21 Championship by an 8-3 final over Community College of Rhode Island on Sunday at Clark University’s Kneller Athletic Complex.
Worcester, MA (May 12, 2024) – With the game tied at two runs apiece in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Northern Essex Community College baseball team plated six runs in the eighth inning to win their third straight Region 21 Championship by an 8-3 final over Community College of Rhode Island on Sunday at Clark University's Kneller Athletic Complex. With the win, the Knights improve their season record to 25-13 overall and advance to host next weekends NJCAA Northeast District Championship series against the winner of the Region 15 championship tournament between Kingsborough Community College and Monroe College-Bronx. The District Champion will advance to the NJCAA World Series in Auburn, NY beginning May 25th.
The Knights jumped on the board first when Thomas Fratto (Reading) jacked a two-out solo home run over the left center field wall in the bottom of the first inning. CCRI immediately took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second on a pair of hits and a defensive miscue, before the Knights tied the game back up in the bottom of the third.
Ryan Brown (Haverhill) led off the third with a walk and would steal second base before coming around to score on a one out base hit back up the middle from Chris Bear (Boston). CCRI got out of the inning before the Knights could do any further damage and the game would then remain scoreless for four plus innings before the Knights plated six runners in the bottom of the eighth to secure their championship.
The Knights opened the eighth with Michael Fabiano (Reading) and Jacob Carter (Reading) reaching via a walk and hit batsman. The scoring would start with one out when Brown laid down a bunt single that scored Fabiano. Max LaLime (Portsmouth, NH) was intentionally walked to load the bases and Bear roped a two RBI single down the right field line which would end up being the game winning hit and giving the Knights a 5-2 advantage. A walk to Fratto and both catcher Eric Wainwirght (Falmouth) and third baseman Manny Castro (Manchester, NH) were hit by a pitch to plate two more runs. A walk to Carter resulted in the sixth run of the inning.
Fratto's home run was the games only extra base hit as the CCRI out hit the Knights 11-10.
Michael Geissler (Peabody) got the start for the Knights and went 4 1/3 innings allowing five hits and two runs while striking out six and walking three. John Afanasiw (Marshfield) came on in the fifth inning and provided 4 2/3 innings and allowed a single run in the top of the ninth inning while scattering six hits, striking out three and walking two.
District Tournament information will be released on Monday. NECC will be seeking a third straight and 10th all-time World Series appearance.