All posts by Observer Staff

Elon Musk captures the blue bird

It’s not over until the blue bird sings, but it looks like Elon Musk is ready to give the app a new song.

Twitter’s board has accepted Elon Musk’s 44 billion dollar offer to buy the social media giant.

The purchase brings an end to negotiations and talks that started on April 4 when Musk announced he had become the tech company’s biggest shareholder.

Twitter’s board met on Monday ahead of the announcement, to discuss Musk’s proposal after shareholders warmed to the idea of a takeover.

Initially met with resistance from some of the company’s largest stakeholders, Reuters reported earlier that Musk swayed investors who previously opposed the acquisition with his proposal on Monday.

Bret Taylor, Twitter’s Independent Board Chair, said in a statement on Monday, “The Twitter Board conducted a thoughtful and comprehensive process to assess Elon’s proposal with a deliberate focus on value, certainty, and financing. The proposed transaction will deliver a substantial cash premium, and we believe it is the best path forward for Twitter’s stockholders.”

The New York Post reported that at $44 billion, Musk is paying more than 175 times as much for Twitter as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos paid for the Washington Post in 2013.

Musk who is the CEO of electric vehicle manufacturer and clean energy company Tesla said he plans to make Twitter private and restore the platform’s adherence to free speech.

In a statement posted to his Twitter account a few moments after the acquisition Musk wrote “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,”.

However not everyone is thrilled about the SpaceX CEO acquiring Twitter. Some are concerned that his purchase signals the presage of the end of the tech company’s attempts to police hate-speech, trolling and doxing that has long infested the service.

“Elon Musk is the same man who came at Bernie Sanders by calling him old and saying he forgot Bernie was alive, because Bernie was fighting for the rich to be taxed. We’re just going to get a bunch of elitists spewing their hateful rhetoric. I can already see Trump getting his new handle ready,” said Shaiana Nunez

Other users like Cesar Batista say Musk’s purchase of the social media company won’t stop him from using the service. “I go on twitter for entertainment, anything else I tune out. So, whomever owns it, whether it’s public or private has no effect on me,” Batista said.

Twitter the company that launched a million tweets in 2006 with its singular blue bird logo now might have a new song to sing with Mr. Musk at the helm. What’s left to see is if users will want to keep on singing in 280 characters or less.

Gun violence in America

I believe in our Second Amendment Rights to bear arms, but I do not think that regular citizens should be able to acquire automatic or semiautomatic assault rifles. There has been 119 mass shootings so far this year and we are only into April. That is almost one a day, according to Newsweek.

Last weekend alone, 53 people were injured or killed in mass shootings across the country. The deadliest weekend yet was two weeks ago, when eight people were killed and more than 60 were hurt in mass shootings across nine st ates, according to The Washington Post.

April alone has had twelve mass shootings, killing 15 people and 56 have been injured and it is only the 5 th of April. March had 53 mass shootings and February had 40, according to Gun Violence Archive.

Some Republican lawmakers do not believe guns are the problem. For example, Congresswomen Lauren Boebert and Majorie Taylor Greene think people are the problem.

In a Christmas card Boebert proudly had her four young boys brandishing military-style semi-automatic assault rifles (AR-15s) in front of their Christmas tree, she shared in a Tweet, right after a deadly school shooting in Michigan.

Boebert is the owner of her gun-themed restaurant “Shooters Grill.” She has her waitstaff armed with guns and encourages all patrons to wear their guns proudly. She also had a hissy fit about not being able to bring her gun into the Capital and onto the House floor, according to the Washington Post. She shared a video on Twitter of her toting a Glock around Washington, D.C.

U.S. Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, went as low as to harass David Hogg, a high school shooting survivor in Parkland, Florida, about his stance on gun control, according to News Week

Greene taunted the 21-year-old while he was walking from a conference because he advocates for more stringent gun control measures, according to Newweek. Hogg believes “people should be required to have a license to purchase a gun-drawing a comparison to people needing a license to drive a car, hunt, or cut hair,’” according to Newsweek.

Greene has been getting backlash for calling on Hogg to be “more masculine” and to “try hanging out with actual deer hunters” during several tweet exchanges, after Hoggmade the comment about needing a licens, according to Newsweek.

Hogg asked Congresswoman Greene how his “classmates’ rights including the Second Amendment were not infringed upon when they were killed in their classrooms,” according to Newsweek.

In a campaign ad, Greene is seen proudly shooting several kinds of automatic and semi-automatic guns. She makes it seem like the Democrats are out to take Americans guns. She does not seem to be able to conceptualize the thought of more diligent gun laws, which is what Hogg has been advocating for.

Greene and Boebert should start doing their jobs for their constituents, instead of harassing young victims on the street. It’s baffling how these two grown Congresswoman can’t see the difference between taking away Americans gun and having more extensive gun control and more rigorous background checks.

Would the real pedophiles please stand up? The irony of Republicans calling Democrats pro-pedophilia

During the Supreme Court Justice confirmation hearing of Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sen. Josh Hawley accused Jackson of being soft on child pornography offenders. Court records show that Jackson did impose lighter sentences than federal guidelines suggested but also in line with sentences other judges have imposed for the same crime.

Hawley’s insinuation neglects critical context, including the fact that the senator himself has voted to confirm at least three federal judges who also engaged in the same practice, according to ABC News.
Republicans like Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene are loosely and repeatedly making assertions that Democrats are pro-pedophilia. Let’s look at some Republicans who have a shady past when it comes to being pro-pedophilia.

Let’s start off with former President Donald J Trump. At a 1997 Miss Teen USA Pageant, Donald Trump reportedly barged into the girls dressing room while girls as young as 15 were changing. Trump told the teens “Don’t worry Ladies, I’ve seen it all before,” according to CNN.

Trump’s campaign denied the accusations, but CNN unearthed a 2005 Howard Stern interview where Trump bragged about walking into the backstage dressing rooms at the pageants, according to CNN.

During the 2018 U.S. Senate race, Alabama Republican candidate Roy Moore was accused of preying on girls as young as 14. Six women accused Moore of pursuing sexual relationships with him when they were teenagers as young as 14 when he was an assistant district attorney in his 30s, according to The New York Times.

The newspaper reported that Moore’s habits of trying to pick up high school girls was so notorious that it got him banned from a local mall.

Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who was accused of covering up sexual misconduct while he was the wrestling coach at Ohio State University, according to CNN. Team Doctor Richard Strauss was accused of sexually abusing 177 male student athletes on the team.

Numerous former wrestlers told reporters that Jordan was personally aware of the abuse that happened during the early 1990’s but chose to turn a blind eye, CNN said. One victim has said that Jordan called him crying and begged to not let the story go public. Twenty-two coaches confirmed to an investigative team that they were aware of rumors/complaints about Strauss, dating back to the late 1970s. Strauss ended up committing suicide in 2005. Jordan denies any knowledge of the abuse, according to CNN.

Former GOP staffer and Republican National Committee aide, Ruben Verastigua, admitted to being part of a ring that traded child pornography that involved babies, according to Politico. He was sentenced to more than 12-and-a-half years in prison, according to Politico.

Former Republican U.S..Rep. Dennis Hastert, the longest ever serving Republican Speaker of the House, pleaded guilty of withdrawing $952,000 to use as hush money to hide the fact that he sexually abused teenage wrestlers that he coached from 1965 until 1981, according to The New York Times.

Republican Congressmen David Dreier, Porter Gross, John Doolittle, Thomas Ewing and former Republican House Majority Whip Tom Delay all wrote letters to the judge on Hastert’s case to “give him leniency where you can,” The New York Times. Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in prison and two years’ supervised probation. Judge Durkin said, “that to have to use the words ‘serial molester’ and Speaker of the House’ in the same sentence makes me sick” according to The New York Times.

Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz is currently the subject of a sex-trafficking investigation which is looking into whether Gaetz had sex with an underage 17-year-old girl and transported her over state lines for the purposes of sexual activities, among other allegations, according The Washington Post.

In 2017 Gaetz was the only member of Congress to vote against a law boosting the governments human trafficking investigating powers saying he was sent to congress to reduce the reach of government, according to The Washington Post

Tennessee Republican State Rep. David Byrd had been accused of sexual misconduct by three women who were underage at the time, according to The Washington Post. Christi Rice alleged that Byrd abused her over the course of her sophomore year of high school while he was her basketball coach.

Rice said that “he talked about it, he wanted to see me naked, he told me he spent more hours with me in a day that he did of his wife, that when he had sex with her he was thinking of me,” according to The Washington Post.

Republican talking head Tucker Carlson defended Warren Jess, the fundamentalist cult leader who is currently in prison for child rape. Carlson said that Jess was in prison for his “weird and unpopular beliefs,” like the forced marriage of underage girls.

Jess was convicted on two counts of felony child sexual assault. Carlson said the conviction “was unjustified,” according to Buzzfeed.

Former Republican Speaker of the House in Puerto Rico, Edison Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughters when they were between the ages of 9 and 17, according to the Guardian.

Former Republican Waterbury, Conn., Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year-old girls, according to the New Haven Register.

Former Republican campaign consultant Tom Shortage was sentenced to three years’ probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year-old girl, according to The Guardian.

Former Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl, according to The New York Times.

Former Republican U.S. Sen. Strom Thurman had sex with a 15-year-old which produced a child, according to The New York Times.

There are more than 300 accusations or convictions that could still be written about.

If conservatives are going to smear Democrats as “groomer” and “pro-pedophilia” and pose as the nation’s protector of children, it’s certainly fair to bring up this history in retort.

It is also entirely valid to note how weak the GOP’s response has been to recent scandals in its own rank and file.

Observer wins gold medal

Man and woman standing next to eachother holding print copies of the NECC Observer with awards plaques in the background.
Current Editor-in-Chief/Sports Editor Jose Rodriguez of Lawrence and former Editor-in-Chief Isae Grullon of Lawrence in the Observer newsroom in Room 318 Spurk on the Haverhill campus on April 20. Some of the multiple awards the Observer has won over the years are on the wall behind them. | NECC Observer

The NECC Observer was awarded a gold medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for work published during the 2020-2021 school year.

During this time the student newspaper did not have a print edition because of the pandemic and stories were posted solely to the website: https://observer.necc.mass.edu/

The judges wrote that the Observer should be proud of what the staff accomplished under such difficult circumstances during the pandemic.

The Observer was also awarded a gold medal for its work during the 2019-2020 school year, when it was also all online. The newspaper had the additional distinction of All Columbia Honors for receiving an exceptionally high judging score that year.

The NECC Observer is a consistently award-winning student newspaper, but the award feels particularly impactful during the pandemic.

Faculty adviser Mary Jo Shafer says she is proud of all the students who contributed to the Observer, especially former Editor-in-Chief Isae Grullon. Grullon is now pursuing her bachelor’s degree at UMass Boston.
Founded in 1925, the CSPA unites student editors and faculty advisers working with them to produce student newspapers, magazines, yearbooks and online media. CSPA is owned by Columbia University and operated as a program affiliated with its Graduate School of Journalism.

The NECC Observer is an award-winning newspaper published by NECC journalism students.

The NECC Observer staff works to inform the college community, including students, faculty, and staff. The Observer also serves as a public forum for the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses and accepts letters and guest columns from the college community.

The NECC Observer is funded by the college’s Academic Affairs division, and the newspaper staff receives its training in the college’s Journalism/Communication Program. Journalism/Communications Program Coordinator Mary Jo Shafer, an adjunct instructor, serves as faculty adviser to the newspaper.
To learn more about NECC’s Journalism/Communications program visit the website or reach out to admissions@necc.mass.edu, 978 556-3700.

 

Students share advice on how to manage school/work balance

According to the American Association of University Professors, a recent study revealed that 43% of full-time undergraduate students were also employed while enrolled in classes and 81% of part-time undergraduate students were employed while enrolled in classes.
It is common for college students to struggle when it comes to juggling time spent on assignments and their obligation to their jobs, according to AAUP.
Local students talk about what works for them in terms of mastering that balance and achieving success in this predicament.
College student Evan Hartman, of Lynn. shares his approach to making this dynamic work. “I have had to cut down on the days I work and have a flexible schedule. I do the work on my days off.”
When asked if his
pursuit of education was something that he shared with his employer, Hartman responded “my employer does not know that I’m currently working on education. You only really want to let your employer know if it benefits them. Because I’m studying something different it would not benefit them and also signals that I’m planning on leaving. Every employer needs to think you are playing for their team.”
Another local college student, Rachel Myers, of Lowell, shares this sentiment.
“I rely on my job for income, but for the most part I keep my educational goals private. I am not sure that my job would be accommodating if I needed time off to study. My job expects me to make work the number one priority.”
Myers recommends students work jobs with flexible schedules in order to maneuver both responsibilities.
“It’s good to have a job that already has a flexible schedule and coworkers who are open to switching shifts if something comes up with school or you just need extra time to study. My advice to new students would be to make sure that their job isn’t too demanding.”
Alexis Fields, a student from Springfield, shares how she copes with the stressors associated with an overloaded schedule.
“I try to make time for myself when I can. I write lists and make goals so I finish assignments on time. I also try to create a lighter schedule for myself around finals if possible.”
In a perfect world, students would be able to participate in their education free from any other distraction or commitment, but the reality is that most of us cannot.
Life has other demands that we must meet.
Hartman shares that it can be difficult, but nevertheless he has advice for prospective college students who plan to work while they take courses:
“I would say don’t take a whole pile of courses in the beginning.
“Ease into it. Education is a journey not a destination. Do what works for you.”

PACE awards honor students

PACE award honoree Kimberly Justo with her certificate and her mother Kendy Bastardo at the awards ceremony.
PACE award honoree Kimberly Justo with her certificate and her mother Kendy Bastardo at the awards ceremony. Photo courtesy Factulty Adviser Mary Jo Shafer

On Tuesday, April 26 PACE Program hosted their annual PACE Awards and Alumni Success Panel night. Special guests for the alumni panel were Jonathan Aguilar, Jennifer Lilja, Karina Calderon, Genesis Garcia and Kiara Pichardo.

The PACE Program helps first generation students and also it helps students transfer to a four year college.

I interviewed award winner Kimberly Justo after the ceremony.

“I feel really proud about it. I think I kinda knew I was getting something out of it cause I worked really hard to get it… I was really excited I felt like everything that I did was worth it…” Justo said.

I had a chance to interview Garcia “…I haven’t been back in campus since 2012 so it’s really a nostalgic to kinda walk through the hallway like get to be back in the old stooping ground getting a lot of flashback and old memories of just being in class I just saw professor Mary Jo, I remember having class with her and I saw Kristen and I remember going to her office planing out my semester with her…” Garcia said.

Award recipent Iseline Rodriguez Mendoza said she had no idea that she won an award.

“I actually came here late because I didn’t even know that they were an award going on I missed the email… but Tony emailed hey where are you but I show up … they handle my award so I am really happy they got it and I was able to come here and pick it up,”  Mendoza said.

The PACE awards winner are: Citizenship Award: Toni-Ann Pavoa, Yamilex Rodriguez, Darlyn Vasquez, Adelaida Vilorio and Isae Gruillon.

Learning Scholar Award: Rosa Arancena Polanco, Liset Gonzalez, Petagaye McLaughlin, Alina Concepcion, Jesus Guzman  and Vyonna Mugo.

Outstanding New Participant Award: Scott Bixby, Karen Stokes, Luisa Rivera and Skylar Underwood.

Perseverance Award: Josh Fernandez, Maribel Sanchez, Marlin Polanco and Savy Yeth.

Futuristic Award: Elian Gonzalez, Kimberly Justo, Jennifer Matias, Savanna Greene, Jennifer Keen and Jose Rodriguez.

Most Inspirational Student Award: Maya Laliberte, Shauna McCord, Iseline Rodriguez Mendoza, Sofia Loughlam and Raquel Quezada.

Most Involved Participant Award: Juan Lozado

Academic Achievement Award: Maya Laliberte, Thelma Ortiz, Yomerly Rodriguez, Shauna McCord, Kanthi Patel and Ishmael Torres.

Partnership in Equality Award: Gabe Garcia and Sharon McManus.

A group of alumni sitting at a table giving a presentation with a big screen behind them
Special guest alumni panel, from left, Genesis Garcia, Jennifer Lilja, Jonathan Aguilar, Kiara Pichardo and Karina Calderon at the PACE awards ceremony on April 26 in Haverhill. Jose Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief / Sports Editor

Alumni Panelists: Jonathan Aguilar, Jennifer Lilja, Karina Calderon, Genesis Garcia and Kiara Pichardo.

Raquel Quezada: Journey of Latina who changed the world

On Wednesday Feb. 2 I had a chance to interview Raquel Quezada from Haverhill she is currently studying psychology in Northern Essex Community College. She is an author,and used to be a journalist in Dominican Republic.

Raquel Quezada has a radio program on Saturday Changing the World with Person with Disability from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. it can be listen on 89.3 FM also in Instagram live @Cambiandoelmundo04.

Quezada mentioned me how she become an author “I have a child with disability one of the struggle that we have how to navigate the system breaking the barrier that we have in our community our society and also in our culture so he was my biggest aspiration for me to write the book to break the barrier with disability and their I share you know stuff that family member struggle but also education for parents that have kids and their special education.

She started writing books four years ago she mentioned to me “I just submit my fifth book and I believe I never going to stop because something that inspired me to much,” said Quezada.

For the children book it doesn’t take her to long to write unlike the adult book. “For the adult it takes me 1 year, 6 month for the children book it took me 1, 2 or 3 week,” Quezada said.

You can buy her books on Amazon, Walmart, online on target and in Barnes and Nobble. She mentioned to me “Here at the library at Northern Essex and also in the local community business Vecina Beauty Supply in Lawrence,” Quezada said.

Raquel Quezada
Raquel Quezada Photo Credit: Schonna Quezada

Then we talked about the radio program that she has on Saturday morning “In order for us as latino as a parents as a advocated to make a difference in our community you have to be in the table and I believe the only way for me to make a change and just share my knowledge and make a difference is to be at a table so I applied to be apart of the board member for the Massachusetts developmental disability of council which I am there for the past three years,” Quezada said. She also mentioned that “As a secretary to we been navigating the system and looking for those barrier that the latino community have which right know is the language barriers and the barrier that they have to get the resource that are available in our country and in our community to,” she said.

I asked her what is harder writing a book or having a radio show?

“I believe it is both because being the first Latina her in Massachusetts to have a radio show for education with people of disability it was hard for me to looking for space once I was their people start getting like to know better and educate more and also the same thing for as a author that they talked about you each of the same educational part people with disability but you know I am making my way and I believe what I am doing I’m really passion about it, Quezada said.

Quezada, she used to work on radio and television as a journalist in Dominican Republic.

She told me that it is a long process to get prepared for the program “First I gathering the people that is going to participate on Saturday. On Monday we start inviting the people and then on Tuesday we start gathering the topic that they going to talk and then I do the agenda what is going to happen on Saturday and then I do my resource about topic… I combine seven professional in the radio show tv the topic that is very value also for our community for example last week we were talking about depression and right know depression in the education part is very high value right know because with the pandemic there is a lot of people that have depression so we try to incorporate topic that are very value…,” Quezada said.

She inspired people when she goes back to Dominican Republic “I believe you is a good example for your brother, sister, your family and you know we are have something to set as an example in our community so I believe I been inspired a lot of people especial parents. I had two people that I been inspired to be author that they are current with child with disability they wrote a book because of me because I mentor them for doing it and that’s one of the thing that I identified myself I like to mentor people I like to push people, I like to let them know that even themselves it is not about the situation that they have right know it is the future that the have for them and so yeah I am a mentor and I like to set an example for everybody,” Quezada said.

She want learn people with learning of disability “You guys are very unique people that help that you guys need and be whatever you guys want in the world. I always think parents in order for us to empower our kids we as a parent have to impower our self to believe in our self and to get all the opportunity other resource all the program that is out there for our kids and from there you guys going to believe in your self the way you do it. I always say to you I am very proud of you… nothing happen for no reason accept always the diagnostic and get the help that they need not only with the kid of disability but also for the whole member of the family,” Quezada said.

One thing in life she want to accomplished that she still haven’t accomplished is that she want to be in Telemundo.

Quezada also was recognized as The Newman Civic Fellowship.

Knights beat CCRI for the first time since 2018

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.

Softball season forced to take a seat on the bench this spring

The 2022 Northern Essex Community College softball season will end before it began this year. Due to a roster with a small number of players and injuries, fielding a full team will be ineffaceable.

“We had eight young women very interested, but we really need about eleven or twelve to field a team,” Athletic Director Dan Blair said.

The last time NECC was able to field a softball team that played a full season was in 2018. That team finished second place in their division. The 2020 softball season had several talented players and started with promise but was cut short two games into the season by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rookie head coach, Xavier Nunez was looking forward to the task of leading the softball season.” I wanted to begin building a culture in the softball program,” said Nunez. “I am disappointed about not playing but that makes me more excited about playing next year.”

Nunez is an NECC alumni who played baseball for the Knights as a third baseman in 2016 and 2017. In two seasons he batted .383 in 46 games. He currently is also a member of the NECC baseball coaching staff under Jeff Mejia for the last two seasons.

An inability to field a team is an issue that is facing the rest of the conference teams as well.

“We are in the Yankee small college conference for softball and of the six teams in the league only one was able to field a team,” Blair said.

Although the softball program has battled a numbers problem for years there is still reason for optimism for 2023 and beyond. Nunez’s knowledge from playing for and working under Mejia’s coaching staff will give him an insight into how to duplicate the success the baseball team has has had.

“It’s my hope we can retain six or seven of the girls interested and bring in another six or seven for the coming fall and really start building up the program. I would like to see the softball program succeed, we have the resources, we just need the players,” Blair said.

Every other spring sport such as baseball, golf, track and field and esports will all still be participating this spring.

Knights sweep Quincy in three games

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.

Knights in action against Quincy
Knights in action against Quincy Photo by Editor-in-Chief/ Sports Editor Jose Rodriguez

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.