Knights capture 4th straight Region 21 Championship, defeat CCRI 2-0

Haverhill, MA (May 12, 2025) - Three members of the Northern Essex Community College pitching staff combined to allow just one and allow only five CCRI runners to reach base on Monday morning as the Knights captured their fourth straight Region 21 Championship and advanced to the Northeast District Tournament in Selden, NY scheduled to begin on Friday afternoon.

Sophomore Francis Comeau (Plymouth) got the start on Monday morning and went five innings, while striking out and issuing just one walk. Enger Paulino (Dudley) came on and pitched three innings of one hit relief, followed by Larsen Burch (Painting Post, NY) who came out of the bullpen for a second straight day to pitch a perfect 9^th inning, with the ensuing dogpile on the pitchers mound.

After the first CCRI batter of the game reached on an error, a spectacular double play from Manny Castro (Manchester, NH) kept CCRI off the board and allowed the Knights to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

After drawing a two out walk, Jacob Carter (Malden) would advance to second on a passed ball and score on a base hit to left field from Thomas Fratto (Reading).

NECC would add an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, as Luke Martinho (Lynnfield) led off the inning with a double to left field landed just beyond the outstretched CCRI left fielder. Martino advanced to third on a sacrifice fly to right field and score on another sacrifice fly to center by Jaren Megan (Fairhaven) that would result in the final score.

NECC outhit CCRI six to one for the game.

The best of three Northeast District series will be played of the campus of Suffolk County Community College with first pitch Friday set for 3:30pm, Saturday is scheduled for a 12:00pm and if needed Sunday's first pitch would also be at 12:00pm