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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Local Travel Softball Teams Compete in Pittsfield Tournament

iBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Berkshire Force 12-and-under travel softball team went 3-0 Saturday to start play at the Nightmare on the Dirt tournament at the Doyle complex.
 
In the Force’ first game against the Valley Storm, CC Clark went 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, and Abbigail McLaughlin and Peyton Demary each went 2-for-2 with a double. Emma Wixsom struck out three and scattered five hits in a complete-game, 11-1 win in the circle.
 
The Force then beat the N.C. Impact, 14-1, behind Ava B., who went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. Demary and McKinley Bushika split the pitching duties, combining to strike out seven in the three-inning win.
 
The Force capped its day with an 8-2 win over Top Level Athletics’ 11U team. Charlotte Kotski went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs in a nine-hit attack for Berkshire. Wixsom and Bushika each pitched, allowing just two hits and striking out three.
 
The Force ended the day seeded first in its division and starts pool play on Sunday at 12:30.
 
The Berkshire Force and Adams-Cheshire-Savoy Swatt 10U teams also are in action at the tournament. The Swat is seeded fourth after going 1-2 with a 10-9 win over the Force on Saturday. 
 
The Force is seeded fifth heading into pool play, which starts at 12:30 for the 10Us when the Swat and Force meet in a rematch to decide who takes on the tournament’s top seed in the semi-finals.
 
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