NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams SteepleCats are starting off the season with fundraising spaghetti dinner on Monday, a return to their traditional logo — and Slider.
A move to somewhat reinvent the New England Collegiate Baseball League team last year is being modified based on fan feedback. Matt Torra, who came in as general manager last spring, has taken the lead in rebuilding the board of directors and reformulating the team's brand.
"We will be having the blue and white and add some color ... It will be a blend of both," Torra told a meeting of 'Cats fans and supporters this winter. "I hope you understand ... we found the best we can do is to bring back some of the old and keep some of the new. ...
"As a committee, we really took everything you said to heart."
The team's colors had been flipped to from yellow and black to blue, black and white (a play on Drury High's colors) and more assertive big cat mascot. The revamped logo is now blue and yellow and sports one of the city's steeples for which the team is named.
New manager Michael Dailey, director of baseball operations at Radford University, and Torra are building a team they believe will have a high level of play. And they're hoping the fans will return to support them when the season opens with a home game against the Sanford Mainers at Joe Wolfe Field.
"We want to make it fun, we want people to come out to the game," Torra said. "I want the players to have fun, I want the fans to have fun ... The kids in the community look up to us, it's something I want to continue."
Among plans are working with the Pittsfield Little League, reaching out to schools and youth summer programs with free tickets and activities, and adding specialty nights for the community. The 'Cats are also bringing the concession back in-house, including ice cream.
And Slider, the team's mascot, will be back in a new costume. "We know they did want Slider back," Torra said of fan input.
The SteepleCats will be sharing Joe Wolfe Field with the LaFesta Baseball Exchange as well, with the collegiate team playing during the day and LaFesta kids taking the field in the evening.
"LaFesta will be the same day so it's how to meld that to get a big crowd there," said LaFesta organizer and 'Cats volunteer George Canales. "The Boston kids will be coming early to see the SteepleCats."
Torra said the organization also wants to do more team-building activities so the players headed for North Adams for the summer have a memorable time, such as weekly dinners to give the host families a break and activities on non-game days.
"We want a better experience for them on arrival and for the family weekend," he said. "We're moving in the right direction ... We're trying to make it all work."
The team's spaghetti dinner will be held Monday, April 8, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Bounti-Fare in Adams. Tickets are $10 and there will be a 50/50 raffle and a chinese auction.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
BAAMS' Monthly Studio 9 Series Features Mino Cinelu
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — On April 20, Berkshires' Academy of Advanced Musical Studies (BAAMS) will host its fourth in a series of live music concerts at Studio 9.
Saturday's performance will feature drummer, guitarist, keyboardist and singer Mino Cinelu.
Cinelu has worked with Miles Davis, Sting, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Tracy Chapman, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Vicente Amigo, Dizzy Gillespie, Pat Metheny, Branford Marsalis, Pino Daniele, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Salif Keita.
Cinelu will be joined by Richard Boulger on trumpet and flugelhorn, Dario Boente on piano and keyboards, and Tony Lewis on drums and percussion.
Doors open: 6:30pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
All proceeds will help support music education at BAAMS, which provides after-school and Saturday music study, as well as a summer jazz-band day camp for students ages 10-18, of all experience levels.
Also Saturday, the BAAMS faculty presents master-class workshops for all ages, featuring Cinelu, Boulger, Boente, Lewis and bassist Nathan Peck.
More than 300 students from area high schools entered their work in 12th annual Teen Invitational at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. click for more
Backed by a $750,000 federal grant for a planning study, North Adams and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art are looking to undo some of that damage.
click for more
"It wasn't 100 percent consistent but I was afforded the opportunity to get to know other people with different religion, beliefs, backgrounds and culture and to be able to embrace that." click for more
With the area warming up, events are blooming in the Berkshires this weekend, including an egg hunt, live music, fitness events, and more.
click for more