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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Another Holmes Road Bridge in Pittsfield Down to One Lane

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The location of the bridge on Holmes Road. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Another bridge on Holmes Road will be reduced to one lane indefinitely beginning next month and closed for the rest of the week. 

It's the third bridge so far in the Berkshires that's been downgraded in the past month: The Briggsville bridge in Clarksburg is set to be replaced by a temporary bridge and the Park Street bridge in Adams has had weight restrictions placed on it.

On Tuesday, Pittsfield announced that the bridge over the Housatonic River, located between Cooper Parkway and Pomeroy Avenue will be reduced to one lane of traffic from Monday, March 2, until further notice.

"Due to a recent inspection by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation," a press release stated, it will be closed in both directions from Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 25) to Sunday, March 1, so that barriers and a signal can be installed. 

Two years ago, a bridge farther down the road over the rail line reopened after a partial closure since 2019 and a full closure of more than 60 days. 

The bridge over the Housatonic is identified as being structurally deficient by the state based on an inspection last October. Built in 1962, the 35-foot steel-and-concrete span has an overall condition of 4, or poor. 

Pittsfield has identified a temporary detour during this work, using Pomeroy Avenue, Marshall Avenue and Cooper Parkway.

On March 2, two-way traffic will be restored in one lane and directed with a temporary signal. 

Pittsfield reported that the state has selected this bridge for repair as part of the Funding for Accelerated Infrastructure Repair program and will take responsibility for design and repair "in an accelerated way." Gov. Maura Healey announced the program last month using funds from the Fair Share Act, and is part of the governor's $8 billion transportation plan.  

iBerkshires has reached out to MassDOT for more information on this project. 

Residents and officials celebrated the reopening of the bridge over the railroad in August 2023. It had been reduced to one lane since 2019 after being found structurally insufficient and in need of a $3.5 million replacement of the overpass structure. This included a new superstructure over the Housatonic Rail line, a restored sidewalk, improved bicycle access, pavement, and traffic barriers.

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