Northern Essex named #6 seed for NJCAA World Series

Haverhill, MA (May 19, 2026) – The Northern Essex Community College baseball team has been selected as the sixth seed in the upcoming NJCAA World Series Set to get underway on Saturday May 23^rd at TVA Credit Union Ballpark in Johnson City, TN.

NECC will open up play in the tournaments first game on Saturday at 9:30am where they will take on third seeded SUNY Niagara. The other six teams in the tournament field include top seeded Dallas College-Eastfield, second seeded RCSJ- Gloucester, fourth seeded Alexandria Tech, fifth seeded Brookdale College, seventh seed Caldwell Tech and eighth seeded Oakton College.

An opening round win would send NECC to the winner's bracket where they would play the winner of the game between second seeded Gloucester and seventh seeded Caldwell Tech on Sunday at 4:00pm. An opening round loss and the Knights would play an elimination game on Sunday morning at 9:30 against the loser of the aforementioned game.

Niagara will enter the World Series with a 51-6 record while the Knights will enter at 31-8. The two teams met on a neutral site in Florida on March 14^th with Niagara taking both games of the double header 7-2 and 5-0. Niagara ended the Knights season last year in the World Series, while NECC eliminated Niagara at the 2023 tournament.

On the mound NECC will be led by Regional Pitcher of the Year Jack Kelleher (Haverhill) who currently leads the nation in both ERA at 1.09 and strikeouts with 112 in 74 innings of work.

Offensively, the first four batters in the lineup are batting at .370 or higher with David Castillo (Boston) leading the way at .430 followed by Jake Yngber (Miami, FL) at .404. Owen Derocher (Berkely) sits at .394 while Jaren Megan (Fairhaven) checks in at .370.

Overall, the Knights are making their fifth straight World Series appearance and 12^th overall. In their twelve appearances NECC has three top three finishes in 2012, 2016 (runner-up) and 2023.