Haverhill, MA (May 6, 2026) – The top seeded and #7 nationally ranked Northern Essex Community College baseball team is moving on in the winners bracket of the Region 21 Tournament as they defeated Bunker Hill by a 8-0 score on Wednesday at Haverhill Stadium. The win improved NECC's record to 27-7 on the season. They will play on Friday morning 9:45am at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough against either CCRI or Quinsigamond, looking to punch a ticket to the championship round.

Jack Sarno (Byfield) took the ball in the opener and pitched seven innings of one hit baseball, striking out four and walking four. Eric Bridges (Saugus) closed out the game striking out one without allowing a hit.

The Knights broke through and got on the board in the fourth inning with four runs. Stephen Diaz (Lawrence) led the inning off by reaching on an infield error and scored one batter later when Jack Aylward (Lowell) drove a single down the left field line. Later in the frame Brooks Keefe (Marblehead) would drive a single back up that middle that would score Aylward and Owen Derocher (Berkely) who singled on a hard-hit ball to right field. The scoring concluded when Marbel Soriano (Boston) scored after reaching via walk, would score on an errant throw stealing third base with two outs.

Keefe would score a long run in the sixth, following a double to center field, another throwing error and his steal attempt of third base allowed him to cross the plate.

NECC would close out the scoring with three additional runs in the eighth inning as Keefe would record his second extra base hit of the game that drove in two more runs for his third and fourth RBI's of the game and Josh Jones (Hamstead, NH) would drive in Keefe one batter later with a double of his own down the left field line.

For the latest information on the Region 21 Tournament follow NECC Athletics on social media @neccknights and by visiting www.neccknights.com