SteepleCats Offense Struggles In Loss To Nighthawks

HARTFORD, VT. — On one of the coldest nights of the summer so far, the SteepleCats offense somehow managed to be colder.

Traveling just up the road to Hartford, VT, the North Adams SteepleCats faced off against the Upper Valley Nighthawks Saturday night. After jumping out to an early 4-0 lead after the 1st, the Nighthawks held the SteepleCats to one run and claimed a 4-1 victory.

Starting Pitcher Danny Taggart made his fourth appearance this year for North Adams, getting pounced on early by the Upper Valley offense. The Nighthawks got across four quick runs in the 1st after an Eric Feliz grand slam, yet only managed to get one hit on Taggart in his remaining three innings on the mound. Boston College’s Tommy Lane threw the final four innings for North Adams, striking out four and holding Upper Valley to just three hits.

Unlike the SteepleCats, the Nighthawks used a plethora of pitchers throughout the night. A total of five pitchers graced the hill for the home team, with the only one throwing above two innings being starting pitcher Jordy Allard. Allard’s four innings held North Adams to just two hits while striking out five.

The SteepleCats offense finally got one across the dish against Tyler Adcock in the 8th inning. A Greg Gasparro walk and a Jackson Coutts RBI single gave North Adams it’s only run of the night as their offense struggled to get runners home, leaving eight on the base path during the contest.

Due to weather, the SteepleCats Sunday contest against the Keene Swamp Bats has been canceled and rescheduled for July 2nd. Having Monday off, their next game will be on the road against the Vermont Mountaineers on Tuesday. They then return to Joe Wolfe Field on Wednesday to face the Ocean State Waves at 6:30. Tickets for that game or any SteepleCats home game can be purchased online at www.steeplecats.org or at the Ticket Booth one hour prior to the game’s start.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.