Spring 2007

Knights Baseball Grabs State Title Again

The Division 3 Junior College state tournament seems to bring out the best in the Northern Essex Community College baseball team.

Seeded No. 3 in this year's four-team field, the Knights (18-7) rallied to defeat No. 2 and host Massasoit 5-3 in the semifinals and then came back for a 6-5 win over No. 1 Holyoke, giving Northern Essex its third state title in the last four years.

“It was a great performance by our kids and some great baseball,” said Northern Essex coach Kerry Quinlan. “Of our three titles, this was the hardest and probably the most rewarding.”

Chris Anderson was the star in the opener, throwing a five-hitter over nine innings, striking out 15 while going 2 for 4 at the plate with an RBI. Pedro DelaRosa was 2 for 5 and Mike Nicholson was 2 for 4. Nicholson also had the key hit, a two-run single in the Knights' three-run eighth inning.

In the second game, Edwin Torres of Lawrence, got the key hit, a two-run RBI single in the sixth to make a winner of Londonderry's Alex Szymanski, who was superb in five innings of relief. Entering the game with the Knights trailing 5-4, Szymanski gave up just one hit the rest of the way and struck out five.

Also fueling the offense were Anderson (2 for 4, RBI) and Mike King (3 for 5, RBI, three stolen bases). “This was a big accomplishment, but it'll be tough next week,” said Quinlan.

The Knights will play in the Division 3 double elimination regional Friday through Sunday in Manchester, Conn., with the host team, Massasoit and Holyoke completing the field.