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Pittsfield Powers Past Westfield in Little League Playoffs

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
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WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Westfield American League 12-year-old All-Stars escaped the first inning against the Pittsfield Americans without a run allowed despite giving up three hits.
 
But there was no escaping Pittsfield after that.
 
Pittsfield pounded out 20 hits in an 11-1 playoff win that ended in the bottom of the fifth when Brendan Stannard singled to right to drive home Kieran Coscia.
 
Nolan DeGroff and Stannard each homered, and DeGroff and Luke Mele each doubled to keep Pittsfield in the winners’ bracket of the Section 1 tournament, where on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. it will host the winner of Wednesday’s game between Leominster and Holden.
 
“We hit pretty much every morning -- two groups from 8 to 10,” Pittsfield manager Ty Perrault said. “Coach [Joe] Skutnik does a good job taking care of the hitting.
 
“We hit the ball pretty well. We were having a little problem going to right field at one point in the game, but once we got that taken care of and handled the outside pitches, we were in good shape.”
 
Westfield jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to lead off the second inning.
 
But in the bottom of the frame, Pittsfield answered. Shane Bernardo led off with an infield single, and DeGroff crushed an 0-1 offering over the left field fence to give Pittsfield the lead for good.
 
The designated home team broke things open with a seven-run third inning.
 
Again it was an infield single that got things started. This time Owen Kroboth, one of the heroes of Pittsfield’s District 1 title-clinching win, led off by beating out a groundball to the left side.
 
After Bo Bramer bunted him over and Michael Britten singled, a wild pitch allowed Kroboth to score and moved Britten to third. Shane Bernardo’s groundout scored Britten to make it 4-1.
 
And then the real fun began.
 
The next six batters reached base with two out, including DeGroff’s and Mele’s doubles and Stannard’s two-run homer to make it 9-1.
 
Pittsfield tacked on a 10th run in the fourth, and Coscia singled, moved up on a wild pitch and a groundout and scored easily no Stannard’s hit to end things in the fifth.
 
Coscia and Stannard also bookended Pittsfield’s efforts on the mound. The former started and went 1-⅔. The latter struck out a pair in the fifth.
 
As a team, the four Pittsfield pitchers -- including Patrick Rindfuss and Dylan Trova -- struck out six while scattering five hits.
 
“We’ve pretty much been pitching by committee throughout the tournament,” Perrault said. “We don’t have anyone who is dominant. We have a lot of guys who can throw strikes and who have more than one pitche.
 
“We have confidence in probably eight or nine guys. It gives us nice flexibility.”
 
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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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