Pachaug, NY (May 16, 2025) - Jack Sarno (Byfield) tossed 5.2 innings of two run baseball and the timely hitting of Jacob Carter (Malden) and Manny Castro (Manchester, NH) propelled the #9 nationally ranked Northern Essex baseball team to a 5-4 win over #6 Suffolk County in the opening game of the Northeast District best of three series. The win sends the Knight to a 31-8 overall record and one win away from a fourth straight World Series appearance and the programs 11th all time appearance.

With game tied at four heading to the ninth inning, Carter led off with a triple to the right center field gap and scored one batter later when Castro hit a sacrifice fly to the center fielder.

NECC took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Cater doubled to center field and drove in Jaren Megan (Fairhaven) who led the game off with a double of his own.

Suffolk would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning but would be held scoreless until the bottom of the sixth.

The Knights would add a pair of runs in the third as the first three batters of the inning ing reached and Michael Fabiano (Reading) scored Castro on and infield single to the third basemen. Thomas Fratto (Reading) would also come around to score when Mark McKay (Plymouth) reached on an error by the shortstop with two outs in the frame.

Castro also pushed the lead to Knights 4-1 in the fifth inning when he clubbed an opposite field line drive over into the netting above the right field fence.

The Sharks would plate a pair of runs in the 8th inning before Larsen Burch (Painting Post, NY) came on and pitched a perfect ninth inning as all three batter he faced grounded out Carter at shortstop.