Auburn, NY (May 26, 2024) – The Northern Essex Community College baseball team concluded their 2024 season on Sunday afternoon with a day two loss to Paul D. Camp Community College by a 9-5 final score. With the loss the Knights conclude their season at 27-15, while the 2024 season marked the Knights third straight and tenth overall appearance in the World Series.
The Knights jumped out to a 2-0 with a single run in both the top of the third and fourth innings. Max LaLime (Portsmouth, NH) reached on a one out line drive to right field and moved to second on a walk to Chris Bear (Boston). LaLime would come around to score base hit back up the middle from Thomas Fratto (Reading).
Michael Fabiano (Reading) would lead off the top half of the fourth with a single and come around to score with two outs on a single from LaLime. The Hurricanes would score their first runs and take the lead a lead they wouldn't relinquish in the bottom half of the inning.
The first four batters of the inning would reach for Camp as they plated three runs on three hits in the fourth and would add four more runs in the fifth in another three hit inning. Two more runs staked Camp out to 9-2 lead before the Knights made it interesting in the ninth, with three runs and the game tying run in the on deck circle.
Mark McKay (Plymouth) led off with a pinch-hit walk, and moved to second on a sacrifice from LaLime. Bear would reach on a fielder's choice and Fratto would walk to the load the bases and a walk to Eric Wainwright (Falmouth) would allow McKay to score. Manny Castro (Manchester, NH) reached on a infield single to score Bear and Fabiano grounded out to third that allowed Fratto to score resulting in the 9-5 final score.
Michael Giessler (Wilmington) started for the Knights and allowed three runs on four hits in three plus innings of work with one strikeout. Camp outhit the Knights for the game 12-8.