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 16U Defends Home Field with Tourney Title

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Berkshire Force 16U travel softball team Sunday rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull away for an 8-4 win in the championship game of their Battle of the Berkshires tournament at the Doyle Complex.
 
Ava McMahon struck out six and gave up just one run after the first inning as the Force completed a 3-0 run through the playoffs after going 1-2 in pool play.
 
Mollie Crawford, Amelia Polidoro and McMahon each drove in a run in the late rally that finally gave McMahon a little bit of breathing room.
 
The Force jumped on top early with three runs in the top of the first, but the Nor’Easters out of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region responded right away, tying the game.
 
In the second, Amaya Alger (3-for-3) singled, moved up on Mackenzie Biros’ sacrifice bunt and scored on a combination stolen base/errant throw to give the Force a 4-3 lead it never relinquished.
 
But Berkshire missed chances to add to that lead in the third, fourth and fifth, leaving runners in scoring positions in each inning.
 
Meanwhile, McMahon was brilliant in the circle after a rough first inning, striking out six, walking just one and allowing three earned runs in a complete-game effort.
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