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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Taunton, Mass., Knocks Out Pittsfield at Regional

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
STAMFORD, Conn. – Eastern Massachusetts Champion Taunton strung together three two-out hits to score two runs in fifth, breaking open a one-run game and sending it on to a 4-1 win over Pittsfield at the 16-year-old Babe Ruth New England Championship on Monday morning.
 
Logan Severino struck out five and allowed just one hit in a complete-game effort on the mound to pitch Taunton into Tuesday’s regional semi-finals.
 
Pittsfield’s Cooper Reed was nearly as effective in a losing effort.
 
An outfield error led to Taunton’s two first-inning runs. And, in the fifth, Taunton scored two runs on an infield single for the insurance that took the pressure off Severino for his last nine outs.
 
“He pitched a gem,” Pittsfield coach Phil Bock said. “I don’t know exactly where he was in the pitch count. But I believe he was under 80. To throw seven innings the way he did under pressure – great job, excellent. Very proud of the kid.
 
“Proud of the whole team.”
 
And after a 2-0 run through the Western Massachusetts Tournament and a 2-1 performance in pool play in Stamford, the Pittsfield 16s have a lot in which to take pride.
 
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