Haverhill, MA (May 14, 2025) – Nine members of the Region 21 Champion Northern Essex Community College baseball team have been named All-Region as voted by the conference coaches. Highlighting the list is sophomore third basemen Manny Castro (Manchester, NH) named Region 21 Player of the Year and freshman right handed pitcher Jack Kelleher (Haverhill) named Region 21 Pitcher of the Year. Jeff Mejia was named regional coach of the year.
Joining Castro and Kelleher on the First Team All-Region was the right side of the Knights infield in first baseman Thomas Fratto (Reading) and second baseman Anthony Marino (Lynn), along with center fielder Jaren Megan (Fairhaven) and pitcher Eric Bridges (Saugus).
On the All-Region second team was shortstop Jacob Carter (Malden), outfielder Michael Fabiano (Reading) and pitcher Larsen Burch (Painting Post, NY).
Castro, who will lead the Knights into this weekends District Tournament batted .444 on the season with a region best 47 RBI's to go along with 29 stolen bases and five home runs. 22 of his regions best 52 hits were of the extra base variety.
Kelleher, who in 41 innings pitched went 5-0 on the season with a 2.85 earned run average (best among region pitchers who tossed one inning or more per team game) had 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings striking out 46 batters allowing just 13 earned runs.
Fratto and Marino tied for second in the region behind Castro in RBI's with 35 apiece, while Fratto is currently hitting at .410 and Marino at .422, with 38 stolen bases heading into the weekend.
Megan, the team and region leader with 40 stolen bases is hitting an even .400 heading into district tournament play. He also has 34 RBIs.
On the second team, Carter has 25 stolen bases on the season while batting .337 with 35 hits and Fabiano checks in with a .327 average and 36 hits. On the mound, Burch has a 1.57 earned run average in 34.1 innings of work including four wins and two saves.
Currently with a 30-8 overall record, NECC will head to Selden, NY for a best of three series beginning Friday afternoon with Suffolk County Community College. The series winner will advance to the NJCAA World Series at Falcon Park in Auburn, NY beginning May 24th. For the Knights, they will be seeking their fourth consecutive and 11th overall appearance on the national stage.