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Changes in Store for SteepleCats' 2010 Season09:52AM / Friday, March 12, 2010
NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— Some changes have been made to the SteepleCats schedule this season, including new family-friendly game times, new New England Collegiate Baseball League teams and an international exhibition game against teams to the north.
The SteepleCats will once again play a 42-game NECBL schedule (21 games at home and 21 games on the road). They will play six games against each of their five Western Division rivals (three home and three away) and two games against each of the six Eastern Division clubs (one home and one away).
Beginning with a three-game home stand, the team will host the inaugural game for the Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club, one of the league's new teams, on Friday, June 4. The SteepleCats will then host the western division champion from 2009, the Vermont Mountaineers, on June 5, and the Keene Swamp Bats on June 6 before embarking on their first road trip of the season.
The biggest change for SteepleCats fans will be a new game time of 6:30. The half hour earlier start time was made to accommodate the fans, their families and their busy schedules. Two exceptions this season will occur on the first two Sundays of the season while school is still in session. The team’s two late-afternoon home games will begin at 4:30 on Sunday, June 6, against the Swamp Bats and on Sunday, June 13, against the Holyoke Blue Sox.
Fans familiar to the NECBL will notice the absence of two teams and the addition of two new organizations this summer. During the off-season, the Berkshire County rival Pittsfield American Defenders were sold and moved to Bristol, Conn., and are now the Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club. In the Eastern Division, the Manchester Silkworms were sold and moved to Laconia, N.H., and will now be known as the Laconia Muskrats.
Photo by Wanda Haley
Slider was out and about at North Adams Winterfest last month. |
The 'Cats made some changes in the front office, with David Bond taking over as president from John DeRosa, who was elected president of the NECBL.
The SteepleCats last hosted an international team in 2007, when they defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in front of 1,359 fans and the 1978 Drury High School state championship baseball team. On July 10 at 6:30, Team Canada will play the SteepleCats in one of the five exhibition games they’ll play in the NECBL before going on to more international competition.
This year’s fireworks show will follow the SteepleCats' home game against the Holyoke Blue Sox at 6:30 pm. on July 4. The NECBL All-Star Game will take place in Newport, R.I., on Sunday, July 18.
The team will end their regular-season schedule with five of the last eight games away from Joe Wolfe Field, concluding with a home game against the Danbury Westerners on Saturday, July 31. The SteepleCats will look to extend their consecutive play-off appearance streak to nine years.
For more information on the organization, the 2010 roster, and a complete season schedule, visit the SteepleCats at www.steeplecats.com. |
Your Comments
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| Too bad they don't change their name to: Northern Berkshire Steeple Cats. That way the near by communities of Adams,Cheshire, Williamstown, and Clarksburg, would feel more involved. North Adams is just to local. | | from: Jim from North Adams | on: 03-12-2010 12:00AM
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| why not the new england red sox?...NOT....BOSTON RED SOX | | from: local man | on: 03-12-2010 12:00AM
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| NORTH ADAMS Steeple Cats! Be proud!! | | from: Williamstown | on: 03-14-2010 12:00AM
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| Their logo and lettering sucks! They need a new design!!! | | from: Guy Hawkes | on: 03-16-2010 12:00AM
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| Oh Jim, we don't mind that they have North Adams in their name! Fans come from Williamstown, Adams, Florida, Clarksburg, Savoy, Cheshire -- all over! And thank you, North Adams, for making it happen! | | from: SteepleCats Fan | on: 03-16-2010 12:00AM
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| Well Guy, your wording in regard to the logo was very uncouth...however, if you have suggestions to better the lettering and logo, the committee for the cats is always open to new suggestions. | | from: Fan927 | on: 03-18-2010 12:00AM
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I agree with Fan927....very uncouth!
| | from: | on: 03-18-2010 12:00AM
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