More than 600 Participate in Steel Rail Races

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Matthew Ferraro was the first runner across the finish line at the MountainOne Steel Rail Marathon.
 
Ferraro clocked a time of 2 hours, 41 minutes flat on the Ashuwilticook Rail Trail course.
 
He finished a little more than five minutes ahead of runner-up Nick Reid (2:46:15).
 
Simone Veale won the race's women's division in a time of 3:18:42. She beat out Jill Hussain, who covered the course in 3:27:23.
 
The fastest marathoner on Sunday was Stephen Gulley, a hand cyclist, who clocked a time of 2:15:03.
 
The 26.2-mile circuit was covered by 150 finishers ranging in age from 18 (William Hanley in 14th place) to 72 (Ric Nudell, who finished in 6:04:47).
 
The day also featured a half-marathon and an 8-kilometer race.
 
Mark Rabasco won the half-marathon in 1:18:41, edging Vincent Gauthier (1:22:38).
 
Kat Morrissey placed third overall in 1:23:43 and first among women in the half-marathon, which had 213 finishers.
 
Abigail Chaloux was the fastest woman in the 8K, crossing the finish line in 35:52, six seconds ahead of Caroline Kessler; the two women were ninth and 10th, respectively, overall in a field of 171 finishers.
 
Peter Hale had the fastest 8K time, 27:42. Erik Kessler was second in 30:32.
 
More than 600 people registered for Sunday's races, a record for the Berkshire Running Foundation event. Runners from 24 different states signed up to run.
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Force Drops Pair at USSSA Tournament

iBerkshires.com Sports
SALISBURY, Md. -- The Berkshire Force 16-and-under travel softball team got the tying run to the plate in the top of the fourth, but its rally fell short in a 6-4 decision on Tuesday at the United States Specialty Sports Association's Eastern National Championship.
 
Berkshire's second game of the day went down to the wire with Maryland's Brunswick Steam ahead, 6-1, after three innings.
 
With the tournament's time constraing making the fourth inning the Force's last chance, it got a one-out single from Julia McComish to start a three-run rally.
 
Ava McMahon singled to put two runners on, and with two out, Lexi Spratling singled to left to make it 6-2.
 
Amelia Polidoro worked a walk to load the bases, and Madilyn Demary earned a seven-pitch walk to bring in a run, making it 6-3. Spratling scored on a wild pitch, but Brunswick's pitcher got a groundball out to end the rally.
 
McMahon went three innings in the circle, allowing three earned runs in the loss.
 
The Force started its Tuesday against the Beacon Extreme of New York, which earned a 5-1 win after scoring five in the top of the second.
 
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