On Saturday April 30, NECC Knights faced Holyoke Community College. The Knights defeated Holyoke 6 to 4 in seven innings.

The Knights were down early 2-0 in the first inning as Alex Sweeney of Raymond, N.H., allowed a 2 run home run.

Sweeney settled in as the game progressed and pitched 5 inning of work striking out 8 and allowing 2 earned run as he was the winning pitcher.

The Knights scored in every inning in the first game except the 6th inning.

Thomas Cattaneo of Guilford, Conn.,pitched two inning of work allowing two earned run and giving up three hits.

The Knights had 10 hits in the first game including a game tying 2 run triple of Kameron Levesque of Haverhill.

In the second game of the doubleheader  the Knights defeated Holyoke 9 to 1 and finished the season undefeated in division conference play.

Jagger Iovinelli of Huntington Beach, Calif., improved to 5-0 in the season as he pitched a complete game striking out 13 in seven inning of work.

The Knights combined for five runs in the first two inning of work.

Kevin Rodriguez of Manchester N.H. and Nicholas White of Townsend both hit inside the park home runs in the first inning after Jarred Coppola of Lynn flied out. Richard Matos De La Cruz of Boston hit a home run over the left field fence.

I asked NECC Baseball head coach, Coach Jeff Mejia that if he thinks  Holyoke had  a different strategy heading into today game as two days prior the Knights won 24-4.

“I don’t know if they had different strategy but the had their top arm throwing today they were pretty good it took us a little while but even in that first game it was a close game we scored on every inning but one…” Coach Mejia said.

Kyle Hsu of Brookline, N.H., had three runs batting in. I asked him what does it mean being undefeated in conference division play. “It is huge that means we are winning baseball games that it really it is… we are trying to get out there, play our game and come with the win” Hsu said.

The NECC Knights defeated CCRI 10 to 1 in the first game of a three game set in Trinity Stadium in Haverhill, Mass. The Knights had Jagger Iovinelli of Huntington Beach, Calif., on the mound. He pitched five full innings only giving up one run and striking out four CCRI batters.

Tristan Ciampa of Wilmington pitched three innings of work striking out five batters and Jack Swarbrick of Haverhill pitched one inning of work to finish off the game.

Chris Bear of Boston went 3 for 5 at the plate and knocked home three Knights run.

“I was trying to put the ball in the ball and find some gaps,” Bear said.

The only run for CCRI came into the fourth inning. The Knights had 10 runs 13 hits and no error during the game while CCRI had 1 runs and 7 hits and committed 2 errors during the game. The Knights exploded 5 runs sixth inning.

“Nothing really changed, we just worked. We hit some balls early in the game right at guys that’s a problem. It’s the first time we beat CCRI since they dropped down to division three it is a very good problem and they coached very well…” Mejia said.

According to neccknights.com this is the Knights first win against CCRI since 2018.

The Knights will travel to CCRI on Saturday, April 23, for a doubleheader.

The Knights defeated Quincy College 16 to 1 on Adams Field on the first game of a three game set on Friday April 15

The Knights scored five runs in the first two innings.

Chris Bear of Boston and Jared Coppola of Lynn both had a 3 RBI game. The Knights were up 5-1 heading into the top of the fifth inning as they immediately took off scoring one in the fifth, three in the sixth, including scoring seven run in the seventh as it was enough as the Knights won by mercy rule. Jayden Volker of Coventry, R.I., was unstoppable, striking out 13 Quincy hitters in just six innings of work. Four different Knights hitters also had 2 rbi game.

The Knights defeated Quincy college 8-0 in the first game of a double header. Todd Tringale struck out his career high 17 batters on the first game of the double header. Tringale struck out the side hree different times during the game — in the first, in the third and in the fifth inning.

“For the most part all of my pitches were working today, trusting my pitches, trusting every pitch to (be) executed,” Tringale said. After the game Tringale also mentioned to me that his career high was 13 before the game one contest.

The Knights defeated Quincy College 10-0 in the second game of the double header and completed the three game sweep versus Quincy College.

The Knights had on the mound Tristan Ciampa of Wilmington. He picked up the win as he struck out nine batters in five innings of work. Both teams did not scored in the first inning but the Knights scored four runs in the second and jumped into a 4-0 lead. The Knights scored 1 more run in the third 2 more run in the forth and 3 more in the six. This is the Knights nine shoutout win of the season after the conclusion of Saturday, April 16 game.

The Knights faced Eastern Connecticut Sate JV in the first game of the doubleheader on April 18, at Mansfield Center, Conn. In the first game of the doubleheader the NECC Knights defeated Eastern Connecticut JV 19 to 7 final in the sixth 6th inning in Mansfield Connecticut.

The last time the Knights faced this same team the Knights won the doubleheader during the home opener last month in March.

The Knights arrived at the field around 3 p.m. The Knights’ batters went quickly in the batting cage and started doing their normal pregame routine before the game.

Richard Matos de la Cruz of Boston went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI. I asked him about the double that he hit if he was trying to hit it out.

“Nah I was trying to stay in right field stay simple as much as possible,” he said.

The Knights exploded with 12 runs in the fourth inning and 16 hitters came into the plate.

The Knights had 17 hits in the whole game. They also committed 3 errors during the game. Alex Sweeney of Raymond N.H. pitched 3 innings, allowed 5 hits, 4 runs, earned 3 walks and 4 strikeouts as Sweeney was the winning pitcher. The Knights did not score in the second and in the sixth inning. Eastern Connecticut JV scored two in the first inning, one in the third inning and they also scored four runs in the fourth inning.

Thomas Cattaneo of Guilford, Conn., pitched the final two innings of the game, just allowing three runs, no earned and he also struck out two batters. Combined Sweeney and Cattaneo Knights struckout six batters. The Knights defeated this same team back in the home opener.

I asked Mejia if he believes Eastern Connecticut JV would change his game plan heading into the April 18 contest “ They always do a mixed, it’s listed as a JV team, what they do is some of the guys that aren’t getting any varsity inning sometimes they let them come down they allowed by rule…” Mejia said.

On game two of the double header the Knights defeated Eastern Connecticut JV 4 to 1 in five innings. The Knights scored 2 in the second and 2 more in the third after trailing 1-0 heading into the second inning.

Joseph Settle of Melbourne, Fla., went 1 for 2 and scored 2 Knights run. Dallas Vaughan of Haverhill was on the mound for the Knights as he struckout five in just three inning of work. I asked Mejia why the game ended in the fifth inning and not the seventh since the game wasn’t a knockout “they trainer had to leave they worried about getting the field rain and they got a couple of conference game going up so they conceded a victory,” Mejia said.

In the second game of the doubleheader against Massasoit Community College at Trinity Stadium in Haverhill, the Knights had Sweeny on the mound. The first pitch was at 2:43 p.m. The Knights won 10-1 and extended their winning streak to 13 straight.

It was Alex Sweeney of Raymond N.H, for the Knights and for Massasoit t it was Jadon Ricci of South Easton.

Sweeney immediately walk Max Kelly of East Bridgewater to lead off the game. Matt Kelly of East Bridgewater hit a ground ball to Clay Campbell of Goffstown, N.H., a force out at second Campbell throw the ball away when he throw it to first which allowed the runner to go to second. Bryce Evans of Hull hit a single and Massasoit had runners in the corners with one man out. Ricci was batting when he struck out thanks to an appeal and the second base umpire said that he went around. Frankie Manon of New Bedford was batting for Massasoit on a 0-2 count and the ball went to the dirt, a nice block by Berube Evans advance to second Sweeney strike out Manon for the final out as Sweeney was fired up heading to the dugout without allowing a run.

In the bottom of the first Kameron Levesque of Hooksett, N.H., was batting and he reached on an error by the third baseman Gary Abramson of Miami, Fla. The Knights were in a hit and run when Levesque was stealing second and Kevin Rodriguez of Manchester N.H., hit an opposite field flyball to the left field on the foul line for the first out of the inning. White was at the plate when Levesque stoled second. Levesque ground out to the second baseman Kyle Cummings of South Eastern  for the second out of the inning Levesque moved 90 feet to third and Jared Coppola of Lynn issue a four pitch walk. The Knights had runners in the corner for Richard Matos De La Cruz of Boston when he hit a 2 RBI double to center field as the Knights were up 2-0. Campbell was at the plate when he walked. It broughtJoseph Settle of Melbourne, Fla., a chance to do some damage.Both runners moved up after the pitcher throw a pass ball. Settle strikeout on a high pitch to end the first inning. The Knights had runners in second and third and couldn’t cash in more runs.

The Knights were up 2-0 heading to the top of the second inning. Nick Thibeault of Bridgewater was up for Massasoit as he strike out looking for the first out of the inning. Cummings was batting for Massasoit when he hit a ground ball to the pitcher. Sweeney throw it to first, for the second out of the inning. Abramson was battling pitches as he strike out on a curve ball as Sweeney strike out 2 of the 3 batter to end the top of the second inning.

In the bottom of the second inning Berube reached first on an error on the shortstop. He throw i Matt Kelly cached and the ball drooped from his glove.

Berube got picked off at first for the first out of the inning. Kyle Hsu of Brookline, N.H., ripped a single to right field. Levesque hit a line drive to the second baseman for the second out of the inning as Hsu just got back to first to not be double up. The pitcher had a really close eye on Hsu as Kevin Rodriguez of Manchester N.H. strikeout to end the inning.

In the top of the third inning Nick Pedro of Attleboro was at the plate when he hit a double to left field Massasoit had runners in scoring position and nobody out. Ricci fly out to Settle almost collided with Levesque in right center field.Settle throw the ball to third to complete the double play. Matt Kelly line drive to Levesque at right to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third inning Nicholas White of Townsend fly out to the shortstop for the first out of the inning. Coppola was at the plate when he hit a triple to left field. Matos De la Cruz walked. The Knights was set up first and third with one out Campbell strike out and the catcher throw the ball to first to complete the out but the catcher throw the ball over the head of the first baseman that allowed Coppola to scored and Matos De la Cruz to third. Settle strikeout swinging to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth inning Evans started to bat he ground ball to Coppola at third he misplayed throw it to first and it was not in time as the runner beat the throw. Ricci fly out to the first baseman Hsu in foul territory for the first out of the inning. Manon line out to the right field for the second out. Thibeault was batting when he hit a ground ball to the pitcher for the third out of the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Berube was at the plate to lead it off for the Knights. On a 3-2 count Berube ground out on a bounce to second. The  second baseman Francisco Navarro of Chirique, Panama, run to get the ball he throw it to first and Berube beat the throw for a infield hit. Hsu hit a base hit to right field and the Knights had another opportunity to do some damage in the fourth. First and third with nobody out when Chris Bear walked and the Knights had the bases loaded for Rodriguez, Rodriguez struck out for the first out of the inning. White cleared the bases with a triple to center field wall that scored three more Knights’ run. Coppola was at the plate when he hit a triple that scored the seventh run of the game. Massasoit brought Jomar Angel Castro of North Easton when Mattos de la Cruz was at the plate de la Cruz bring home the eight run of the game a double down the third base line. Campbell was at the plate when de la Cruz went to third on a wild pitch. Campbell was battling pitches off and he hit a base hit between third and short sneaked in the hole for a base hit the scored the 9th run of the game. Campbell got in a run down between first and second and Campbell was out for the second out of the inning Settle strike out to end the top of the 4th inning.

Sweeny was pitching in the 5th for his 5 inning of work Cummings was batting when he strike out looking. Abramson hit an opposite field single to right. Nick Pedro of Attleboro strike out swinging for the second out. Max Kelly ground out to Campbell at short he stepped in the bag on second for the third out.

Massasoit brought a new pitcher to pitch and it was David Lawrence of New Bedford to pitch. Berube lead it off for the Knights. Thethe Knights needed one more run so they can win this game due to mercy rule. Berube fly out to the first baseman on foul territory. Hsu was at the plate when he got hit by pitch that brought Bear to the plate and Hsu speed to third on a wild pitch as the catcher was sleeping and did not run hard enough to get the ball. Massasoit changed the pitcher as Lawrence was hurt. Massasoit

brought Bill Curtis of Holbrook to pitch with a 1-0 count on Bear. Bear was fouling off pitches and with a 3-2 count. Bear single to left field to brought home the 10 run of the game as the Knights won by mercy rule. 10 to 1 was your final and the Knights complete the sweep of the double header and they will travel to Brockton looking for a three game sweep on April 11.

On April 10, 2022, the Knights begin a three game set with a double header against Massasoit Community College at Trinity Stadium in Haverhill, Mass. The Knights defeated Massasoit 6 to 1.

The Knights are 19-2 in the season with a 11-game winning streak.Massasoit is 4-7 in the season, three games under 500. Massasoit in the 2022 campaign had not won a game on the road heading into game one of the April 10 match up.

Both teams was undefeated in conference division play heading into April 10 match up.

Knights Coach Jeff Mejia told me after the game that he had expected a good battle, “absolutely it is always a battle when you play Massasoit,” he said.

Todd Tringale of Saugus was on the mound for the Knights.

Heading into  April 10 game  Tringale had already thrown two no-hitters this season.

First pitch was 12:01 p.m. Max Kelly of East Bridgewater flied out to Clay Campbell of Goffstown N.H., for the first out of the inning. Triangale got Matt Kelly of East Bridgewater to strikeout for the second out of the inning. Brice Evans of Hull fly out to the right field for the 3rd out of the inning.

Josh Perez of Fall River was on the mound for Massasoit. Joseph Settle of Melbourn Fla., lead off for the Knights on a 3-2 count. Settle fly out to the right fielder for the first out of the inning. Chris Bear of Boston hit a fly ball to right field that the right fielder dove to make the catch and possibly robbed Bear of a extra base hit. Nicholas White of Townsend hit an opposite field single with two outs in the inning Jarred Coppola of Lynn was at the plate when White stole second. The Knights had a runner in scoring position when Coppola hit a ground ball to third baseman Bryce Evans of Hull  for the third out of the inning.

In the top of the second inning. Jadon Ricci of South Easton was batting with a 0-2 count when he hit a ground ball on one bounce to he under handed throw it to first for the first out of the inning. Frankie Manon of New Bedford of Massasoit was batting after was behind the count 3-0 he worked the count full 3-2 and he was able to manage to strike out the batter for the second out of the inning. Nick Thibeault of Bridgewater strike out as  Tringale strike out 2 of the 3 batters to work a 1,2,3 inning.

In the bottom of the second inning Richard Matos de la Cruz of Boston was at the plate and hehit a double to the gap in left field. The Knights quickly had runners in scoring position with nobody out when Campbell drove in the first run of the game. Campbell hit a double between left center field. Lucas Berube of Dighton ground out to first. Itit was a close play at the bag but the umpire called Berube out. It was a productive out for Berube as Cambpell went to third. Nick Panzini of Methuen was at the plate when he got hit by pitch in the leg. Runners were in the corner with one out for Kyle Hsu of Brookline N.H when Hsu hit a deep fly ball to right field that scored Cambpell from third for the second out of the inning. Perez throw the ball to first when Pamzini was running to second and the first baseman Kelly of Massasoit throw the ball to left field. Settle strikeout swinging on a high pitch while Panzini was stealing third to end the inning.

In the top of the third inning Kyle Cummings of Massasoit was batting when he strike out looking on a 2-2 count after put the count 0-2. Damien Bonner of Sharon was batting and he also strike out looking on three pitches. Nick Pedro of Attleboro was batting on a 2-2 count he flied out to the right fielder Settle for the third out of the top of third inning.

In the bottom of the third Bear ground out to the second baseman Max Kelly for the first out of the inning. White hit a bullet to the center fielder who the center fielder made  a unbelievable catch to robbed White of extra base hit.

Coppola walked in four pitches that bring in Matos De La Cruz to the plate the count was full on 3-2 when he ground out to the shortstop for the final out of the third inning.

It was my first time that I had a chance to talk to Matos De La Cruz after he returned to the line up a week prior against Quinsigamond back on April 2 because of an injury.

“I feel great it was good to come back it took a little time but I am back in the field,” he said.

In the top of the forth inning Josh Truehart of Brockton  was up when Tringale on 0-1 count hit the batter in the back it was the first batter that Massasoit got on base the whole game. Matt Kelly ground out to a 6-4-3 double play to Campbell to bear and to Hsu. Bryce Evans hit an opposite field double down the first base line over the leaping try Hsu that the ball went to right field. Jadon Ricci of South Easton was at the plate when he groundout to the third baseman Coppola he throw it to first a little offside but Hsu tag the runner in the back for the third out of the inning.

In the bottom of the forth inning Campbell was at the plate on a 3-1 count and was hit in the back. The Knights now had a runner on first when Berube was at the plat. Perez the pitcher of Massasoit throw the ball to first and he throw it away and Campbell was able to score the third run of the game all the way from first. Berube ground out to the third baseman. He throw it to first to get Berube for the first out of the inning. Panzini ground out to the second baseman for the second out of the inning. Hsu strike out but he went to first as the ball went behind the catcher, a passed ball. Settle was at the plate when Hsu stole second. Perez throw a pass ball that allowed Hsu to go to third Settle was fouling off pitches, it was a great at bat, a great battle as he works the count full but he strikeout swinging for the final out of the inning.

In the top of the fifth inning Tringale was on to pitch for his fifth inning of work. he strike out Frankie Manon of New Bedford and Nick Thibeault of Bridgewater. Kyle Cummings of South Easton was batting and the count was full 3-2 when he ground out to the third baseman Coppola. Coppola run to get the ball throw it to first but the first baseman couldn’t grab the ball cleanly so it is an error. A nice throw of Berube to get the runner out at third for the final out of the inning as the runner was trying to steal.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Bear was at the plate when he ground out to the third baseman Evans for the first out of the inning. White walked which brought Coppola at the plate White stole second as the Knights had runners in scoring position with one out when  first baseman Matt Kelly cover a lot of ground in foul territory to make the second out of the inning that he almost over ran it to catch the ball.

Massasoit pitcher Perez throw a passed ball that scored White from third as Matos de la Cruz issue a four pitch walk. Matos De la Cruz day was over for at least the first game of the doubleheader  as Kameron Levesque of Hooksett came in to pinch run for him. Campbell was at the plate Massasoit offense was sleeping as Levesque stoled second and the very next pitch he stoled third. On a 3-2 count Campbell got hit for the second time in the game. Berube was at the plate when Campbell stoled second, another passed ball that brought home the 5th run of the game and Campbell moves to third. The very next pitched Perez throw the ball that it wasn’t even close to the plate as it was another passed ball Campbell scored from third and Berube walked as the Knights were up 6-0. A new pitcher for the Knights was pitching and it was PJ Moniz of Berkley went and replace Perez as Perez day was over Panzini was batting for the Knights when he ground out to the third baseman to end the fifth inning.

In the top of the 6th inning Damien Bonner of Sharon was batting for Massasoit when he strikeout swinging for the first out of the inning. Triangale strikeout Evans as he swing and misses in the dirt a good block by the catcher Berube he throw it to first to complete the out. Max Kelly walk and Matt Kelly ground out to the catcher Berube throw the ball to first for the third out of the inning.

In the bottom of the 6th inning Hsu lead off for the Knights. He fly out to the center fielder for the first out which it brought Settle at the plate. On a 2-2 count he ground out to the shortstop Ricci for the second out of the inning. Bear was at the plate when he ground out to second to end the inning.

Tringale day was over after six shutout inning striking out nine and giving up one hit which it brought Jack Swarbrick of Haverhill for the Knights in relief. Evans was at the plate for Massasoit the ball was barely fair as the ball hit on top of the wall almost it hit the foul play as he got to third on a triple. Ricci ground out to Coppola for the first out of the inning and the runner that was in third scored. Manon got walked in four pitches Swarbrick on a 0-1 count he hit Thibeault. Massasoit had runners in first and second with one out on a 0-2 count on Kyle Cummings of South Easton he got hit on a curve ball in the back. Massasoit had the bases loaded. The Knights just needed two more outs to win the game. Ricci hit a ground ball double play to end game 1 of the double header.

NECC Knights Baseball team went to Florida during spring break.

They played 11 games and went 9-2 including going undefeated the first five games.

This was their best start since the 2015 season.

Coach Jeff Mejia told his players “We worked really hard when it’s game day when we’re playing games relaxed and let yourself play you’re best don’t get too high don’t get too low battle no matter the situation cause you always going to face adversity during baseball season, it’s a long marathon…” he said.

During the trip Coach Mejia told me that Matos Richard de la Cruz of Boston  and  Logan Burilli of Amesbury  got hurt.

“Both of them we lost due to injury during Florida looks like Richard is going to be back in another week which it is great and it’s a good possibility we pick Logan back up before playoff run it is always hard when you lose a player we have another player that he is hurt because he is sick…” Mejia said.

de la Cruz has an injured wrist, Mejia said.

Logan’s injury was diagnosed with a clean break of forearm that they casted in his due to take the cast off the first week of April which it will give him a month to rehab before the playoff,” he said.

Lucas Berube during the trip in Florida he was hitting 2 of his last 23.

Coach Mejia and his coaching staff are not worried in his recent struggles because they feel confidence he will turned around. “… He probably had seven line drive right at guys in the first few games of the season so that happens Lucas got he deals with failure very well and he understand baseball what his done defensively behind the plate makes it valuable as any player we have in the team and his hitting it’s going to come I am not to concern about it,” Mejia said.

He also said “We played solid defensive our pitching was really good and you always can get better you never get perfect in baseball…”

On March 15 NECC Athletic Director Dan Blair was named National Association of Collegiate Athetic Director of the year.

They only give that award to one person of each division of each athletic department.

This school year the women’s volleyball and the men’s basketball team went to the region 21, but finals eventually they lost.

“It is a nice honor to received honestly I think it’s an award for the whole college with the administration support, student, coaches, faculty and staff, none of it would’ve been all possible so the college provides everything the students and coaches I’m just guiding the ship,” Blair said.

He never thought off winning this award.

“I’m pleased to be recognized with the other winners across all seven divisions and to be recognized with some of the folks of Division 1 at NCAA 4 year level. It is great and you know I  look forward whenever the award presentation is out in June I’m looking forward to go to the convention again its going to be my first time since 2019 in person, when we had it in person so just to see people again to it is exciting,” he said.

One of his first people he told when he won the award was his wife “I think the president’s office found out before I did, the first award. I think first person  that I told was my wife and I’ll tell her other people… she told some people and then some other athletic director in the league they got the public announcement the same time I did they reach out to me as well…” he said.

I asked Dan Blair if he is comfortable where he is at right know in the Athletics Department.

“ I don’t think I am speaking to myself, I think I am speaking small college athletic director all around New England and all around the country honestly we need more female student athletes,” he said.

“We’re always trying new things to get them, we’re heading in the right direction but it can always be better. I wish I can get every women athletic program in the college to be successful and competitive as our volleyball program for women that’s kinda the bench mark for all the women’s program here were making stuff in the right direction…” Blair said.