In a winner-take-all second game on Sunday, Daniel Bonito (Swampscott) twirled a three-hitter to give the Northern Essex Community College baseball team the Region XXI Championship over Massasoit Community College at Colombo Field.  As a result, Northern Essex will be heading to the NJCAA World Series in Texas for the third consecutive season.

Massasoit captured game one, 12-5, to force the deciding game, which the Knights won by a score of 8-2 to send NECC (20-12) to the NJCAA World Series for the third straight season.

“It was a long tough day. It was a battle. Both teams were great. Massasoit showed why they were the No. 1 team. In the first game there was nothing we could do, they just beat us,” Northern Essex head coach Jeff Mejia said. “It was a battle between two really, really good teams and it was just a pleasure to be a part of that. As a coach, I feel honored to coach these guys. We have a great group of hard working kids.”

After Massasoit put up 12 runs in game one, the top-seeded Warriors had a difficult time all day with Bonito. The southpaw was outstanding on the bump for the Knights, going the distance surrendering just three hits and yielding two unearned runs. Bonito struck out seven and worked around six walks and one hit by pitch.

In fact, Bonito walked the bases loaded on two occasions — in the second and ninth innings — but he escaped both threats unscathed. 

“We say that a lot about Danny, that is is effectively wild,” Mejia said. “But then he gets in a groove and he is tough to hit. He was heavily recruited out of high school as a pitcher, but I also liked his swing. When he came here (after transferring from Western New England College), I told him you’ll have a chance to swing and pitch and he told me ‘just let me know when I need to win the big one’. He stopped a three-game losing streak for us earlier in the year and today was obviously his biggest game of the season for us.”

Bonito did not allow a hit until two outs in the fourth on a double by Matt Levasseur. The only other hits Massasoit could muster came on an infield single in the fifth and two-out single in the eighth.

“I honestly just tried to stay calm,” Bonito said. “I’m one of the oldest guys on the team. I’ve been there (in pressure situations) before. I just concentrated on throwing strikes and getting my outs and having my fielders help me out.”

Massasoit starter David Tarr and Bonito matched zeroes until the top of the fifth, when the Warriors scored two unearned runs.

However, NECC bounced right back in the bottom of the frame when leadoff hitter Jonathan De La Cruz (Haverhill) connected for a two-homer homer to knot the score at 2-2.

Bonito settled down after the fifth. The sophomore retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh frames as part sending down 10 straight Warrior batters from the fifth through the eighth innings.

In the sixth, the Knights put up a three-spot thanks to a two-run triple by Michael Crisostome (Lynn) and RBI single from David Quazada (Lawrence) to take the lead for good.

Leading 5-2 in the last of the eighth, NECC added some insurance, as MacDaniel Singleton (Everett) cashed in with a bases clearing double to round out the scoring on the day, 8-2 in favor of the Knights.

“It is obviously a great feeling to go to the World Series and I’m really excited to go with this group of guys,” Bonito said. “That is a good Massasoit team and it was nice to finally beat them.”

The Warriors had defeated the Knights four consecutive times this season, before they claimed the most important one, sending NECC to the NJCAA World Series for the third straight season.

Northern Essex Community College’s Chamber Ensemble, under the direction of NECC music professor Christina Dietrich, will perform a free concert on Saturday, May 10, at 7 p.m. in the David Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St.

The program includes opera arias as well as Broadway hits with instrumental works by Bach, Mozart, Delibes, Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Schönberg, and others.

Northern Essex offers an Associate in Arts Degree: Music Option and a certificate in music technology.

For further information contact Christina Dietrich at cdietrich@necc.mass.edu.

LAWRENCE – Wednesday, April 30, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced $1.2 million in advanced manufacturing equipment grants to the Greater Lawrence Vocational Technical High School to support the creation of a new Advanced Manufacturing Academy that will prepare the region’s workforce with the skills for careers in advanced manufacturing. The equipment grant will support a partnership between Greater Lawrence Vocational Technical High School, Northern Essex Community College (NECC) and the manufacturing community.

“Advanced manufacturing is an area of critical focus, one that can help us put people to work now and prepare our workers for the jobs of the 21st century global economy,” said Governor Patrick. “By providing our students with proper skills and training, we are supporting opportunities in this important industry and ensuring a strong economic future for our Commonwealth.”

The new Academy will create a pipeline of entry-level skilled workers to meet the growing demands of the local manufacturing industry, the Merrimack Valley’s third largest employment sector. The $1.2 million from the Commonwealth has helped leverage nearly $500,000 in matching and in-kind grants from Greater Lawrence Vocational Technical High School, NECC and several local manufacturers, including FlowServe Lawrence Pumps, HAAS, Raytheon, Mills Machine, Gould Construction, DesignWerks, and JamLab. These additional funds will help cover equipment and training costs. The Governor made today’s announcement following a tour of FlowServe Lawrence Pumps.

“Boosting American manufacturing and increasing educational opportunities are two of the most critical components to job growth and a healthy economic future,” said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. “With this support, Northern Essex Community College and Greater Lawrence Vocational Tech will provide the Merrimack Valley with top-tier training and education programs, sending positive ripple effects through our manufacturing companies and workforce. There exists a real need for skilled workers and programs like these help meet that need and provide career opportunities for young people. Massachusetts has long been known for its strong manufacturing history, and today’s announcement is yet another example of how the Commonwealth is a national leader for innovation and progress.”

To help address youth unemployment, the Academy will target recruitment efforts to students from the Lawrence area by offering an education and training model for a successful career in the industry. It will also develop an educational bridge leading to certificate programs and Associate Degrees in Science, Technology and Engineering, as well as a planned Associate Degree in Advanced Manufacturing Technology at NECC.

With this new Academy and resources, Greater Lawrence Vocational Technical High School will add 100 new day time seats in the next five years and NECC will expand its evening offerings to an additional 30-45 students. NECC will also plan to utilize the facility when it establishes its Associate Degree offering in Manufacturing for an additional 15 students.

“I have visited Greater Lawrence and have seen firsthand the great work they do to prepare students for college and career,” said Secretary of Education Matthew Malone. “By reestablishing the machine shop, Greater Lawrence and their higher education partner at Northern Essex Community College are setting the right tone for the region’s manufacturers that they are responding to industry needs and preparing students with critical 21st century skills.”

“Manufacturing is enjoying a significant rebound in Massachusetts and across the nation. Low-paying factory jobs have been replaced by careers with competitive wages,” said NECC President Lane Glenn. “This generous grant will help create a regional training facility where Greater Lawrence Technical School and Northern Essex Community College can prepare Merrimack Valley residents for these high demand jobs.”

“Graduating machinists from the Greater Lawrence Technical School have been playing a significant role in the success of the company over the last 45 years and we are excited to see the machinist program re-vitalized providing the local youth with the opportunity to learn a much needed skillset in the workplace,” said Tom Fournier, Operations Manager, Flowserve Lawrence.

“The new Advanced Manufacturing Academy at Greater Lawrence Technical School will allow us to effectively respond to the growing demand for skilled manufacturing workers in the Merrimack Valley and put people to work,” said Senator Barry Finegold. “I applaud Governor Patrick and his administration for making good on their commitment to meet the workforce needs of the advanced manufacturing sector through this grant and am proud of the collaboration that is going on in the region between Northern Essex Community College, Greater Lawrence Technical School and our local manufacturing businesses.”

“I want to congratulate Governor Patrick, Greater Lawrence Vocational Technical High School Superintendent Lavoie and NECC President Lane Glenn for their diligent work in securing this grant that will yield more jobs for Lawrence residents and surrounding communities,” said Representative Marcos Devers. “One of the main reasons Lawrence has maintain a high unemployment rate is due to lack of trained laborers. With this partnership together with the vocational school and NECC, we will be able to train more people for jobs that are seeking workers in the growing manufacturing sector.”

“I join my colleagues in the Lawrence legislative delegation in celebrating the announcement of these advanced manufacturing equipment grants, which will prove invaluable in our efforts, alongside the Greater Lawrence Vocational Technical High School and NECC, to target youth unemployment and create new skilled workers in the area,” said Representative Diana DiZoglio.

Earlier this month, Governor Patrick filed An Act to Promote Growth and Opportunity, which provides $20 million for an Advanced Manufacturing and Information Technology Training Trust Fund to train 4,000 workers for middle-skill careers in manufacturing and information technology fields, that will address shortages in these industries and help employers continue to grow and innovation. The legislation creates tools and training so our workforce is prepared to meet the needs of employers, invests in our Gateway Cities to promote economic development across the entire state and provides incentives to create jobs and stimulate the economy. The bill furthers the Administration’s proven growth strategy of investing in education, innovation and infrastructure that has led to record job creation in Massachusetts and has made the Commonwealth a global leader in key innovation economy sectors.

For more on the bill, please visit www.mass.gov/compete.