By: Parker Dube, Intro to Journalism, Spring 2023
The NEC Baseball team celebrated Senior Day at Laurie Cox Memorial Field in Henniker on April 29, 2023. The team played a doubleheader against conference opponent Lesley University, defeating the Lynx in both games.
The ‘Grims won game one 4-0 with senior pitcher Wyatt Cameron at the mound. Cameron pitched a complete game shutout against the Lynx putting up a stat line of seven innings pitched, five hits allowed, and 11 strikeouts. Cameron improves to 2-4 on the year as a starter with the win.
NEC’s scoring started early as junior JD Normand had an RBI early after grounding out to first. Tim Krol, the next batter, helped then hit an RBI double down the left field line. The score was held at a standstill until the fourth inning when first baseman Tyler Gendron hit a single, bringing senior Aaron Robertson home. The final run was scored when senior Bryce Worth singled scoring freshman Ryan Cote.
Lesley starter Roy Lenhard fell to 0-6 on the season with the loss.
The ‘Grims then took game two 7-1. Scoring started early when shortstop Brady Philibotte hit an RBI single scoring junior Kyle Dobrie. A couple innings later Worth hit a sacrifice fly scoring another run to go up 2-0. Another lone run was scored in the fourth when Dobrie hit a single to score Devin Parsons.
The ‘Grims final four runs came in the sixth inning when Gendron hit a solo home run bringing the score to 5-0. Dobrie hit a double to score Parsons again and not long after pinch hitter Patrick Hagerty hit a double, bringing home Philibotte and Dobrie.
Austin Hazzard starts his throw to the plate in game two during the ‘Grims doubleheader against Lesley on April 28, 2023.
Pitching was strong once again in game two with Sophomore Austin Hazzard pitching a complete game, giving up four hits and one unearned run after Lesley scored off an NEC error. Hazzard also finished the day with seven strikeouts to improve to 5-3 on the year.
These games are the last games the seniors will play at Laurie Cox Field. NEC currently has a record of 14-19 with a conference record of 4-6 as they prepare for the NECC playoffs, keeping them out of contention for hosting a game.
Senior Luca Giallongo reflected on his final games at home.
“I started out here winning a lot of games so finishing off with a couple wins feels like the only way to go out,” Giallongo said.
Giallongo and Dobrie said the team is hitting a stride as they enter the playoffs.
“Over this past week we’ve really picked it up and we’re going to carry this right in,” Dobrie said.
Dobrie gave a lot of credit to how the batters have been having good at bats and the pitchers are throwing strikes.
NEC has three games left before hitting the playoffs as they look to bump themselves to the two seed in the NECC. They return to action Sunday when they travel to Lesley to play another conference doubleheader.
