Blaze, Swat Earn County Titles

Community submission10:25PM / Thursday, August 02, 2018Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Rylee Paronto struck out eight to fire a one-hitter as the Berkshire Blaze 12-and-under travel softball team Thursday defeated Dalton, 7-2, to win the Berkshire County Championship.

Hannah Friedman, Leena Schettini, Amelia Lesure and Natalia Smith each had a pair of hits for the Blaze, who jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings and never looked back.

Casey Wilson doubled in a pair of runs for Dalton, which got four strikeouts and no walks from starting pitcher Casey Wilson.

Each team turned in some defensive gems.

For Dalton, Danny Barry caught a line drive to start a double play in the fifth.

Blaze catcher Schettini threw out a pair of runners on the basepaths.

And Paronto finished the game with a double play, catching a fly ball and firing to second to double off a runner.

The Blaze outhit Dalton, 10-1, in the win.

10-Year-Old Final

ADAMS, Mass. -- The ACS SWAT 10U team earned back-to-back championships in the Berkshire County Travel League with a 7-6 victory over Lenox.

In this back-and-forth contest where we saw Lenox jump out to a 6-3 lead, ACS SWAT used a fifth-inning, four-run rally to get back on top. Leading the way offensively for SWAT was Ashlyn Lesure (3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs) Emily Raschdorf (1-for-3 with two RBIs) and Maggie Wohrle (2-for-3 with an RBI).

The winning pitcher was Nora Moser, who started and returned to close the game, going 5 1/3 innings while recording 12 strikeouts. Moser also teamed up with catcher Maryn Cappiello and shortstop Ashlyn Lesure for a “strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out” double play to end the third.

For Lenox, Grace Julieano and Bella Miller with a pair of hits to lead the offense.

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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