Pittsfield High senior Kevin Donati, flanked by his mother, Paula, and grandfather George 'Buddy' Pellerin, has signed with the University of Albany to play Division I baseball.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High senior Kevin Donati was a strong enough baseball player to draw interest from a number of Division I colleges.
But the standout shortstop had a strong feeling about the D1 program just a short drive from home.
"Albany was just amazing," Donati said on Thursday afternoon. "The campus — I got that butterfly feeling on campus. It was just amazing. I can't even say it."
Donati let his pen do the talking earlier in an afternoon ceremony in the high school's lobby.
Surrounded by family, friends, teammates and classmates, Donati signed his NCAA National Letter of Intent to attend the University at Albany, N.Y., with a scholarship to play baseball for head coach Jon Mueller.
Donati joins an elite group of student-athletes who have come through the Generals' program for legendary Pittsfield coach Bob Moynihan.
"Kevin obviously is a great athlete and puts his name up there with a bunch of other great athletes who have come through Pittfield High," Moynihan said during the ceremony. "In my 37 years associated with Pittsfield High baseball, this has only happened six times — that one of our players has gone on to play Division I baseball. And certainly Kevin's scholarship is one of the best that's ever come out of Pittsfield High."
Donati said his scholarship includes the full cost of books, 50 percent of tuition the first year, 70 percent his sophomore year and 75 percent his junior and senior years. As with the vast majority of Division I programs, UAlbany divides its NCAA-mandated number of scholarships across its roster.
Donati hit .521 with 38 hits and 22 RBIs as a junior last spring, helping Pittsfield finish 15-6.
Add that to his smooth play at shortstop, and he was a natural target for college programs, including the University of Rhode Island, University of Massachusetts at Lowell and American International College in Springfield.
"It's a fun process," he said of the recruiting process. "It was an amazing opportunity, an amazing experience, and I had a fun time with it.
"Albany just stuck out as a perfect fit for me. It's somewhere I can see myself truly succeeding both academically and athletically."
Donati said he is undecided on an academic major, and athletically he figures to learn a lot from UAlbany's current shortstop, Karson Canaday, who will be a senior next spring.
He said the baseball program at the New York school stood out as he he weighed his options.
"The coaches were just very supportive, they have a strong history, and it's somewhere I can see myself grow as a person and as a player," he said.
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BCC Wins Grant for New Automatic External Defibrillator
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is the recipient of a $2,326 grant, funded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, for the purchase of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) device.
The grant specifically covers a device for use inside one of BCC's security vehicles for easy access when traversing the campus.
In total, the Commonwealth awarded more than $165,000 in grant funding to 58 municipalities,
13 public colleges and universities, and nine nonprofits to purchase AEDs for emergency response vehicles. The program is designed to increase access to lifesaving equipment during medical emergencies, when every second matters.
An AED is a medical device used to support people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, which is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have been diagnosed with heart disease. An AED analyzes the patient's heart rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
"Immediate access to AEDs is vital to someone facing a medical crisis. By expanding availability statewide, we're equipping first responders with the necessary tools to provide lifesaving emergency care for patients," said Governor Maura Healey. "This essential equipment will enhance the medical response for cardiac patients across Massachusetts and improve outcomes during an emergency event."
The funds were awarded through a competitive application process conducted by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).
The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.
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The Licensing Board on Monday gave Pancho's Mexican Restaurant the OK to close one hour later — extending last call to 12:30 p.m. and closing at 1 a.m. There have been no reported incidents since a weeklong license suspension.
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The Berkshire County High School Girls Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday welcomed nine new members, including seven women who were lauded for their many successes on the hardwood. click for more