After a 2-0 week from The Knights ace, Jayden Voelker of Coventry, RI he received the NJCAA pitcher of the week honor for the April 18th week. The right-handed pitcher struck out 24 batters across 10 innings and lowered his season ERA (earned run average) to 2.95 that week. 

Voelker threw a five-inning gem on March 30th against Roxbury that saw all 15 outs come from strikeouts. This was something head coach Jeff Mejia “had never seen anything like it.” The sophomore dazzled again in his next start on April 13th vs Bunker hill. He struck out 13 batters and allowed one hit over five innings of work. 

For the season the sophomore is (4-0) in five starts with a 2.95 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 23.2 innings. 

The community college of Rhode Island fell to Northern Essex 9-1 on April 20th. The victory improves the Knights record to (14-11) and extended The Knights winning streak to three games. 

Reflin Jimenez of Lawerence, MA got the start. Jimenez tossed seven innings, allowing one run on four walks and four hits. The right hander picked up the win. On the opposing side, CCRI’s Alex Iannuccilli took the mound. Iannuccilli went four innings. He allowed five runs, three earned on four hits and four walks. Iannuccilli collected four strikeouts in his outing. 

In the first inning CCRI struggled defensively. The Knights took full advantage as Maniel Castro of Manchester, NH and Max Lalime of Portsmouth, NH both scored on throwing errors from CCRI. 

NECC tacked on three more runs in the second inning from doubles by Max Lalime and Chris Bear of Boston, MA 5-0 after two frames. CCRI responded with a run of their of the top of the third. Jimenez struggled with his command, allowing two walks and a hit to load the bases with one out. Jimenez walked the next CCRI batter to force in a run, 5-1. The damage was limited as a ground ball to second induced a double play to end the inning. 

The Knights had opportunities to score but couldn’t come through as they were held scores in the third and fourth innings. NECC broke through with a bases loaded double from Armanni Paulino of Lawerence, MA in the fifth inning to lead 6-1.  

Over the final two innings NECC pushed three more runs across home plate to lead by eight, initiating a mercy rule for the 9-1 victory. 

Mark McKay of Plymouth, MA, Paulino, Bear and Lalime each tallied two hits. Lalime and Eric Wainwright of Falmouth, MA Both recorded ta pair RBIs.

A solid night at the plate from Chris Bear of Boston, MA helped lead The Knights past Quincy community college 11-1 on April 16. The run-rule victory improves NECC to (13-11) this season and (7-2) in regional play. 

Brown, Max Lalime of Portsmouth, NH and Griffin Ruffner of Exeter, NH did the most damage at the plate. The trio combined for 6 RBIs (runs batted in) on six hits. Laime and Bear each swiped a bag on the base paths in the game. 

“We’ve seen similar pitching, so I just stuck with the approach that coach has been talking to us all year about.” Laime said. 

Lalime’s offensive performance earned praise from assistant coach Jeff Mejia Jr. 

“Max is an amazing athlete; he is an explosive player. When he plays. To his capabilities he will look like the best player on the field,” said Mejia. 

Brayan Garre of Monte Cristi, DR got the start. The freshman collected two strikeouts and yielded one run on three hits over four innings of work. 

“My curveball was on early. I avoided contact so they weren’t really touching me” said Garre “(Eric) Wainright behind the plate helped establish the zone with me and stay locked in” 

A single to center field from Bear and a pair of walks by Thomas Fratto of Reading, MA and Eric Wainwright of Falmouth, MA loaded the bases for The Knights, threatening early. However, NECC squandered the early opportunity with a fly out to right field from Michael Fabiano of Reading, MA to end the threat. 

In the second inning The Knights once again threatened to score but didn’t waste this opportunity. The knights grabbed complete control of the game, scoring seven runs on six hits. The run was capped off by a two RBI double ripped down the left field line by Ruffner. 

The Knights added to their lead in the third inning with a pair of runs from Lalime and Manuel Castro of Manchester, NH, 9-0 Knights.  

In the fifth inning head coach Jeff Mejia elected to use his bullpen going with Francis Comeau of Plymouth, MA. Comeau tossed a clean inning by striking out the side. 

The bottom fifth inning once again featured traffic on the base paths. Fratto crushed a single into right field. Then Followed back-to-back hits batsman to load the bases. Fabiano grounded into a fielder’s choice at first to score Castro to lead 10-1. A sacrifice fly from Ruffner scored Fratto and ended the game with a mercy rule. 

On April 11th The Knights’ Luis Reynoso of Lawerence was included in the NJCAA (National junior college athletics association) All-American first team for the second straight season. The selection was announced by the NJCAA voting

 committee. Reynoso is the first Knight in program history be named to two All-American selections. 

 Reysonso helped lead The Knights to

their second consecutive NJCAA East District /Region 21 final appearance. They returned to the NJCAA natio

nal tournament where NECC finished fifth in the tournament. 

In the 6’6 forward’s 2023-2024 campaign he appeared in 31 of NECC’s 34 games. He averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds per game. Throughout the season Reynoso’s presence was felt on both ends of the court as he was first in points (19.8), assists (13.2) and blocks (1.6). 

Nationally, he was third in the league in defensive rebounds (278), sixth in offensive rebounds (130) and fifth in rebounds per game margin (13.2). His 614 points ranked seventh in the league. 

In his second season with Northern Essex, he reached the 1,000-point milestone on Feb 18th. He was the first Knight since Joe Marshall in 2001 to accomplish that feat. Reynoso recorded 1,264 points, 831 rebounds and 249 assists overall in his two-year Knights career. 

 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. 

The Knights postseason run ended March 3 with a 65-48 loss to the community college of Rhode Island. The Knights will finish (12-9) and as regional runners-up in their first season back from a thirteen-year hiatus.

The Knights struck first in the opening quarter with a pair of free throws from guard Kamryn Pastorello of Billerica, MA. Pastorello went 1-2 at the line. CCRI responded with a 5-0 run to lead 5-1. The Knights found themselves in a three-point deficit after one frame 14-11.

NECC was able to keep pace with CCRI. Trailing by two with two minutes remaining in the half, forward Mirelys Morales hit a three-pointer to gain the lead 17-16. The Knights went on a 4-3 run over the final two minutes. NECC entered halftime up by a slim one-point Margin 21-20 and set up a chance for an upset.

Baskets from Morales helped NECC stay afloat in the third quarter and lead by four 29-24. At the five-minute mark of third quarter three NECC begin to unravel and see their 29-24 lead vanish within the blink of an eye. Over the final three minutes The Knights crumbled defensively allowing a 17-5 run to trail by 13, 48-35. 

Entering the final frame NECC attempted to rally but could not get less than within seven points as The Knights fell in the Region 21 finals

The Knights showed their postseason inexperience when CCRI applied pressure in the pivotal third quarter.

“As soon as they started pressuring us, we lost our heads a little bit and started to feel fatigue and they took full advantage” Explained head coach Malaquias Canery.

Morales shared Canery’s reasoning for the defeat.

“We lost it the moment they started pressuring us,” said Morales. “The moment they started applying pressure we just stopped playing the game we know how to play. We committed turnover after turnover, and they capitalized on it.”

Morales was the leader in points with 18 points. Pastorello and McKayla Dingle of Haverhill, MA joined her in double figures with 12 and 10 respectively.

The Knights punched their ticket to the East district championship round with a double overtime victory over Massasoit community college 85-77 on March 2. Offensive heroics in OT from forward Mirelys Morales of Dracula, MA helped keep The Knights playoff run alive.

Morales, who averaged 17.9 PPG, was clutch scoring a career high 37 points, including 15 in overtime.

“I was confident in my skills and my abilities” said morales.

“(Morales) is our go to, she’s been holding us down the entire season, and we wouldn’t be here without her” said head coach Malaquias Canery.

Carney was impressed with his team’s effort and ability to stay focused while in a tight match. 

“We could have easily fallen apart, pointed fingers and kind of given up but we made on the fly adjustments” explained Canery.

The match was a tight affair throughout. NECC jumped out to a 4-0 run over two minutes. Massasoit responded with four unanswered points to tie at four. The Knights closed the first quarter tied with Massasoit at 15 apiece

The Knights dug themselves into a deep hole at the four-minute mark of the second quarter trailing by 9, 28-19. NECC climbed back with an 11-1 run over three minutes to regain the lead 30-29. The Knights committed consecutive turnovers, and Massasoit retook the lead into halftime 33-32.

In the third frame The Knights built a seven digit lead three minutes 41-34. The Knights saw their lead shrink from turnovers and fouls now 41-40. NECC built another comfortable lead 48-41 with two minutes to play only to see their seven-point advantage evaporate into a three-point deficit, 53-48, Massasoit.

NECC started the fourth quarter cold offensively being held scoreless the first four minutes going 0-for-3 in shot attempts. Morales broke the streak with a two- pointer to get The Knights within five, 55-50. A back-and-forth quarter culminated into a two-point edge for Massasoit, 65-63. 

With The Knights down two with 52 seconds left in regulation Morales drove to the basket for a layup to deadlock the score at 65 and send the game to overtime.

A foul sent Morales to the line with 7.7 seconds remaining trailing 72-70 in overtime one, needing both to avoid elimination. This was no problem as she sank both free throws to force a second overtime. 

“We either lose here or we keep going and we keep fighting” said Morales “I was nervous, but I knew that’s what we needed to make it to the final stretch.”

Emma Ruggiero of Chelmsford, MA who had a quite game, but made her baskets count with two crucial midrange shots to give The Knights the 76-72 lead in overtime two. Ruggiero’s go-ahead baskets proved to be the game winner and sent NECC to the East district finals.

Morales was the Lynch pin of the offense with her 37 points and six assists. Kamaryn Pastorello of Billerica, MA contributed with 13 points. 

McKayla Dingle of Haverhill, MA and Mariah LaSalle of Lawerence, MA each reached double figures with 10 and 11 points respectively. 

On March 2 the Knights knocked off Massasoit community college 63-52 to advance to the East district championship round for the third year in a row. The nationally ranked Knights improved to a (29-1) record overall this season. The victory marks the first time since a team in the region repeated district finals appearances. The last time this was accomplished was twenty years ago by Springfield tech. 

Sophomore forward Luis Reynoso of Lawerence, MA is looking forward to participating in the second district finals match. 

“It feels great for me and the team, especially the freshman who didn’t get to experience that last year,” said Reynoso. 

The match was close throughout as neither team led by double digits much of the game. The Knights would take a four-point lead into the half, 29-25. In the early going Massasoit would tie the score at 29. However, The Knights wouldn’t relinquish the lead. 

Reynoso was the team leader in points, rebounds and assists with 19, 15 and 5 respectively. Freshman forward Javien Kirmil of Lowell, MA recorded eight points as well as knocking down two critical three-pointers to help The Knights keep their lead. 

Sophomore guards Darlin Santiago of Salem, MA and Edwin SamMbacka of Paris, France each added 13 and 12 points respectively. 

In the East district finals tournament, The Knights will face a Quincy community college squad that finished in seond place and (21-5) overall. NECC’s last meeting with Quincy came in February with The Knights winning by a slim two-point margin 76-74. Quincy forced 14 turnovers and held The Knights to only 35 percent shooting in the game,which is below their season average. Head coach Darren Stratton is prepared for the challenging matchup ahead. “We only beat them by two at their place,” said Stratten. “Quincy probably has the best starting five in the league and probably the best head coach in the league. We will need to adjust to another style of play.”

For the second consecutive season Northern Essex men’s basketball will participate in the NJCAA tournament in Herkimer, NY. The Knights captured the region 21 title for a second season in a row with an 80-69 victory over Quincy community college. They improved to (32-1) this season. 

This is just the first time a basketball team in the region won back-to-back district titles since Springfield tech in the 03’ and 04’ seasons. 

“This is a heck of a basketball team; I love them to death.” said head coach Darren Stratton. “These kids come ready to work in the classroom and here in the basketball court, I have nothing but praise.”  

“This is a dream come true” said freshmen guard Javien Kirmil of Lowell, MA. “I knew from the beginning we had a great core for a team. We put in the work, and I think we deserve it. 

The first half opened trading baskets, unable to create much separation. The Knights were leading 7-5 at the 14-minute mark. A shot by Quincy from behind the arc put them up 8-7. Luis Reynoso of Lawerence responded a minute later by nailing a three-pointer that gave NECC the lead 10-8. An alley-oop from Karl Wolfgang of Doula, Camern helped give NECC breathing room for a six-point advantage 12 at the 12 minutes into the half. From there The Knights remained in control and took a 10-point lead into the locker room 33-23.  

The Knights opened the second half on a 6-2 run to extend their lead to 14 ,39-25 through two minutes. and remained in cruise control through the match. NECC extended their lead to 20 midway into the half 62-42. Quincy did manage to whittle down the deficit down to 11 down the stretch but never threatened to comeback. 

Luis Reysnso led the way on offensive with 27 Points, four assists and corralled 16 rebounds. Kyoya Sasaki of Tokyo Japan and Kirmil contributed with 14 and 10 points respectively. 

On defense, Edwin SamMbacka grabbed four steals and helped hold Quincy below their season average. 

In the tourment The seconded seeded Knights fell to Riverland communty colllege 77-59 in the frst round on March 14. NECC moved onto the cosolation round.and placed fifth nationally.