Dukes Fall to Lowell 5-4, Eliminated from Playoff Contention

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The Pittsfield Dukes had a tough road to travel if they wanted to make it into the NECBL playoffs, and they fell short in a comeback effort against the Lowell All-Americans at Wahconah Park. www.necbl.com/nutshell.htm The Dukes fell behind early, as starter Bob Buskett (College of New Jersey) allowed five runs through five innings, one in the second, two in the third, and one in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Pittsfield mounted their comeback in the sixth inning as Paul Heidler (Longwood University) and Alex Hassan (Duke University) led the frame off with consecutive singles. After back to back outs were recorded, Scott Savastano (Franklin Pierce University) came to the plate with runners on second and third. Savastano grounded a ball to third that was misplayed and allowed both runners to score. Nelson Gomez (Keystone College) followed with a single that put runners at first and second. Sam Shaughnessy (Boston College) lined a single to leftfield that plated Savastano making the score 5-3. Chester Wilson (Souther Utah University) who was 2-for-4 on the night, grounded a ball to shortstop that ate up shortstop Kevin Nolan (Winthrop University) allowing Gomez to score the fourth unearned Dukes run of the night. Pittsfield would put a two-out baserunner on in the ninth in Tyler Stampone (The College of the Holy Cross), but he was left on base as Savastano popped out foul to first base. With the loss the Dukes are eliminated from playoff contention and still have three games against the Manchester Silkworms. They will play a doubleheader in Manchester Tuesday, game one at 4 and game two at 7, the first of which is the continuation of the July 9th game that began at Wahconah Park. The final game of the year for the Dukes will be Wednesday, with the location to still be determined. For tickets or information, visit our website www.pittsfielddukes.com or call (413) 447-DUKE.
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Wahconah Students Join Statewide 'SOS' Call for Rural School Funding

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

DALTON, Mass. — Students at Wahconah Regional High School are urging the state to fully fund Rural School Aid that supports essential services that shape their future.
 
Rural districts across the state participated in Rural and Declining Enrollment Schools Week of Action to insist Beacon Hill fully fund rural aid at $60 million. 
 
Schools across Massachusetts sent their pleas for aid to lawmakers through letter-writing campaigns, sign-making, and coordinated gatherings where students and educators formed the letters "SOS."

Wahconah students did something different — they created an educational video detailing the need for increased funding for rural schools with the school's music teacher Brian Rabuse, who edited the video, Assistant Superintendent Aaron Robb said. 

The advocacy efforts move the issue from spreadsheets to show the human cost of a funding formula previously described as "remarkably wrong." 
 
During an interview with iBerkshires, students expressed how districts without rural aid would have to make reductions in world language programing, mental health support, extracurricular opportunities, and other areas they find essential. 
 
"Our students deserve the same quality of education as any child in Massachusetts, regardless of their ZIP code," Superintendent Mike Henault said in a press release.
 
"The week of action is an opportunity for our communities to come together and make it clear to Beacon Hill that the status quo is no longer acceptable." 
 
Rural schools attempt to create the same quality education as urban and suburban areas while balancing high fixed costs of transportation and operations of geographically large, low-population districts.
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