North Adams 15s Win Babe Ruth District Opener

By Shannon BoyeriBerkshires.com Sports
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ADAMS, Mass. -- The North Adams 15U Babe Ruth team defeated Franklin County Thursday evening, 3-0, in the first game of the District Tournament at Renfrew Field.
 
Robert Matte pitched a complete game for North Adams, striking out 10.
 
He battled back in the third inning after striking out one and walking three and loading the bases; he then struck out two batters in a row to end the inning.
 
"He's a great pitcher, he didn't have it in the beginning, he was kind of spotting his balls," head coach Richard Guyette said. "So when I went out on the mound and told him if we're going to walk players to just throw the ball, and he started to throw and it changed the whole complexion of the game."
 
North Adams got on board right in the first inning with a run from Mike Ferrara. It wasn't until the sixth inning, after Franklin County went 1-2-3 in the third,fourth, and fifth innings that North Adams was able to score those final two runs.
 
It started with Ferrara drawing a walk. He then stole second before a bunt from Ryan Dubie advanced him to third. Ferrara then scored on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0.
 
"I told my guys we have to get on," Guyette said prior to the sixth inning. "Mike Ferrara had a great at-bat, and the minute he got on we stole him and then I took the bunt down and took a chance with on a bunt scoring from second and it worked out."
 
Dubie scored North Adams final run of the game.
 
North Adams will travel to Westfield Sunday afternoon for their second game of the tournament.
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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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