Northern Essex baseball added to their win column with a double header sweep against Roxbury community college on March 30 at Trinity stadium. NECC (6-9) extended their win streak to three in a row. The Knights won by scores of 18-1 and 16-6, both were run rule shortened games.
Game one
Jayden Voelker of Coventry, RI who got the start for the Knights was electric striking out 15 Tigers. Voelker allowed one run on four walks over five innings of work and didn’t yield a hit. Roxbury’s lone run came in the fifth inning with a base loaded walk to force in a run. The Right hander’s performance earned high praise from Knights head coach Jeff Mejia.
“All 15 outs were strikeouts I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it, he was lights out,” said Mejia.
In the bottom of the fourth inning an injury scare occurred when a Knight collided with the Tigers first baseman Andrés Pitno. Pitino was on the ground for several minutes. “His head collided with the turf” explained Roxbury head coach Justin Carey to a concerted spectator “we will keep you (the spectator) updated” added Carey.
The offense provided all NECC would need to win. An explosive second inning featured 11 runs on six hits and a walk. The Knights pushed seven more runs across between the third and fourth inning thanks to extra bases hits by Michael Fabiano of Reading, MA and Ryan Brown of Haverhill, MA for the 18-1 victory.
Game two
The second match was closer as starter Harrison Cooley of Barrington, RI was charged with six runs, five earned in 2.1 innings. Cooley struggled with his command allowing four hits, one walk and three hits batsman.
“It wasn’t my day” Cooley said.
“He didn’t get to warm up the way he typically does, and it certainly showed but he did a good enough job to keep us in the game” Mejia said about Cooley’s rough outing. “In those circumstances all you want to do is be close so you could comeback.”
Mejia decided to use his bullpen with one out in the third inning, he turned to reliever Mike Gisener of Wilmington, MA. Geissler was brought in with runners on the corners and one out up 6-2. The right hander allowed a walk to load the bases. Then followed a Tiger hit an RBI double to left field to put Roxbury within two 6-4. A bases loaded walk forced in a run, 6-5. A sacrifice fly to right field tied the score at six. Geissler limited the damage to four runs. The score was now tied at six apiece.
NECC ‘s bats picked up a struggling pitching staff tagging The Tigers with 16 runs on 16 hits including a two-run shot over centerfield by Chris Bear of Boston and a home run from Thomas Fratto of Reading, MA.
“I liked that we came back, every time they threw up a run we responded with at least one run. Explained Mejia. “Our guys kept battling all their other arms and they were their better arms than the last game”
In the top of the fifth inning The Knights once again went to their bullpen, this time Jeremy Lopez of Amesbury, MA got the call. Lopez fared much better, tossing a clean fifth inning and worked around one walk for the 16-6 win.
Bear was a highlight on offense for the day going 6-for-7 (.857) with eight RBIs, eight extra base hits and a walk.
“Chris bear had a great series and he’s our leader,” said Mejia.
Fratto and Eric Wainwright of Falmouth, MA Both had a sold day at the plate collecting a combined eight RBIs on five hits and a home run from Fratto.
