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SteepleCats Back at Joe Wolfe After Season-Opener Win
The 'Cats opened the season on Thursday night with a 6-0 victory over the Sanford Mainers at Goodall Park.
Tonight's game is sponsored by Hoosac Bank. Be one of the first 500 fans in and receive an inflatable baseball beach ball. Stick around after the last out and enjoy the post-game fireworks spectacular sponsored by T&M Auto Sales, Village Ambulance Services, Aladco, Racing Mart, Pete's Gun Shop, HD Reynolds Sales and CW Construction.
One third of the SteepleCats season will be played on Sundays this year. You can support your hometown and have dinner at the The Joe because Sunday is $1 hot dog night. To accommodate fans still in school, the first three Sunday’s in June will feature a start time at 4:30.
The first Sunday of the season, June 10 , the team will host the Mystic Schooners. All fans in attendance will receive a free 2012 Schedule Magnet.
Visit shopsteeplecats.com or call 413-663-7333 or purchase your season ticket opening at tonight's game.
Q&A With Pittsfield Suns Owner On Opening Day
The Suns first game is Thursday night at 7 p.m. |
The Suns are the newest team to call Wahconah Park home — the sixth team and fourth league in 10 years. Goldklang, however, boasts experience in running professional ball clubs and says they can succeed with the Futures League club with their prices, mid-inning entertainment and quality baseball.
The Suns kick off their season Thursday night at 7. Following the game there will be a fireworks show.
iBerkshires sat down with Goldklang on Thursday to find out what fans can expect this year as employees bustled about the park to ready it for opening night.
Q: Today is opening day. How does it feel to be here right now?
JG: It's fantastic. I'll probably say this again tonight but one of my earliest baseball memories is shagging flyballs about 25 years ago for the AA Pittsfield Cubs. To be sitting here tonight, running the opening of our own team out of Wahconah Park is ... it might sound like hyperbole to say it is a dream come true but in reality, it is.
Q: What do you guys have planned for this season?
JG: We're known around baseball circles, I think it is one of reasons the Parks Commission and the city of Pittsfield chose us, is that every time people step into Wahconah Park, it is a brand of entertainment. It's a show.
Obviously baseball and what happens between the lines is the most important thing and will always be the most important thing. When that's not occurring, whether it is between innings, before games, after games, we anticipate bring our brand of entertainment to the greater Berkshire area.
Q: What does that mean? What kind of promotions do you have set up or eyeing?
JG: Our assistant general manager Kevin Maguire, one of the reasons we hired him is the fact that he is one of the most creative individuals in the game. We have all sorts of fun stuff planned. Tonight, we have a horse delivering the first pitch. A real horse coming out to deliver the first pitch.
The fireworks shows that we will put on will be longer and better than most of the other firework shows in minor league or professional ballparks across the country. Other than that, it is a living, breathing, environment where we may change whatever we are doing on the field in the middle of the game or we may change it after the game. Whatever we feel the pulse of Pittsfield would like to see.
Q: Since you've been here working on the field and in the stadium, there is a difference between knowing the park and actually working on it, what is your opinion on the condition of the park and usage of it?
JG: It's fantastic. We had an ownership stake in the Pittsfield Cubs in the mid-80s. Today this ballpark is in better shape than it was back then. The playing surface itself is in fantastic shape. The city of Pittsfield does a wonderful job on it. We operate four other professional ball clubs and this will stand up to each of them.
In terms of the ballpark itself, you are obviously dealing with an aging ballpark — or an aged ballpark — so you don't have the bells and whistles and some of the creature comforts you would have in many other ballparks. But one of the great things about Wahconah Park is that it's not just an old ballpark, it is a historic ballpark. It's a ballpark with a tremendous amount of character and that aids what we are trying to do. It adds to the nostalgia of what baseball is in Pittsfield.
Q: How is your team shaping up?
JG: We like it. I spoke to [general manager] Jamie Keefe right before you came in and we think we have a pretty good ball club. You never know, especially at this level, until you get out there and play a couple games.
Tonight, we anticipate playing one of the better teams, one of the more highly regarded teams on the field so we should have a pretty good sense. But it's not only tonight because baseball isn't just one nine inning affair. We believe we have a good product on the field this year.
Q: On paper, what can people expect? A lot of running, heavy hitters?
JG: It's a Jamie Keefe team. We're going to be aggressive. Jamie asked in the clubhouse before the season started 'who here can't run?' You had two or three kids raise their hand and he looked at them and said 'you're going to have five bags by the end of the year.'
It's going to be a really strong defensive team, Keefe teams are strong up the middle and we have a couple really strong hitters that we feel can probably contribute from the power standpoint — gap power and the occasional homerun. In general, it's going to be a real aggressive and defensively strong team.
Q: You are running a team here in Pittsfield after many teams have failed. We talked about the overall product but what are your thoughts about those teams? Are you finding places where they've gone wrong or is it a 'we can do it better?' What makes you believe that you can succeed where they've failed?
Goldklang said overall food prices are lower than last year's Pittsfield Colonials team. |
There have been some really good people that have tried their hand at running ball clubs in Pittsfield and it hasn't worked for various reasons that we don't necessarily need to get into at this juncture. I will say this, we have a very large organization behind us and over the years and over the next three years — in terms of how long we have our licensing agreement with Pittsfield — we will not disappoint the city of Pittsfield or the greater Berkshires with the product that we put on the field and the product we have in the stands.
We anticipate growing relationships with businesses and the community at large in a different way than what has been done in the past. Certainly, I am not going promise that we are going to be unbelievably successful at the gate but I can promise that we are going to try and we are going to be doing the exact same things three years from now as we are today.
Q: At least three years?
JG: We have a licensing agreement with the city of Pittsfield for three years. My brothers and I right now would love to say that we'll be here for 10-15 years but we'll see. We anticipate this being a long-term relationship.
Q: Are there changes at the park? I see there is a bouncy-bounce thing out [in right field] that used to be a gazebo. There was another gazebo here in the beer garden. What kind of changes should fans expect?
JG: We're catering to the fan base as a whole. We were here last year and they had a fantastic higher end. You can still do that if you contact us or we contact you and you want to have an executive or corporate party, but in general we are very kid friendly and kid specific.
You can see the bounce houses out there in the outfield. We're going to have our own version of pony rides, where it is going to be inflatable horses that kids can bounce around on out there. There will be a spin art area catering to the very artful background of the Berkshires in the summer. You can see down the right field line there is a tent area and like every baseball operation, we're going to cater very largely to picnics and groups.
In general, the changes we've made, some being cosmetic some being operational, are meant to cater to the overall demographic of families in the greater Pittsfield area.
Q: How are your ticket sales so far?
JG: Ticket sales have been online for quite some time. Ticket sales are progressing very much as we've been anticipating. Pittsfield is a very walk-up type of mentality. In the Berkshires, the old expression is 'if you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it will change.' People are cognizant that at this ball park they should be able to walk up and hopefully be able to buy some high-quality tickets the day of the game.
At this juncture that is the mentality out there and we fully support that. We hope by mid-season or the end of the year and future years, we will be able to attract purchases in a much stronger fashion. In general, ticket sales are progressing even better than we anticipated three months ago.
Q: What about food service? How are you running that?
JG: That's going to be third party. It is Michael Roller who runs Samel's Deli and Savory Catering. One thing I will say about the previous regime here, when we would come into Wahconah Park and having eaten at four to five dozen ballparks across the country every year, there was never a higher quality than what Michael supplied at Wahconah Park. One of the first things we did was contact him, reach out to him and secure him for this season because we haven't found his equal in any ballpark.
Q: Are food and beer prices going to be about the same?
JG: They should maintain. We've probably lowered in a few areas and the average price of a food item at Wahconah Park in 2012 is lower than the average price in 2011. Even though food costs and other items went up, we felt from a customer service standpoint, providing not only food but entertainment in general at a very family friendly cost. It was one of our No. 1 goals.
Q: How about merchandise?
JG: Merchandise will be on an aggregate less expensive than last year.
Greylock Boys Basketball Sweep Tourneys
The Greylock Travel Team ended the season as three-time champs. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Greylock Boys Basketball Travel Team rolled over the competition on their march to tournament victories over the past few weekends.
The team, comprised of boys in Grades 5 and 6 from Williamstown and Lanesborough, won the Housatonic Tournament, Berkshire County Championship and the Adams Tournament.
The three-time tourney champs pictured above are Cal Messina, left, Evan Sheridan, Henry Rauscher, Colton Adams, Dom Paris, Eli Ostheimer and Alex Backiel. In the back are Sam Dils, left, Demaggio Paris, Josef Soza-Foias, Sean McCormack, coach Clint Chase, Phillip Guest, coach Travis Clairmont and Brady Foehl.
Monterey Softball Seasons Starts Month Early
The traditional Monterey Sunday Softball season got off to its earliest start ever on March 18 at Greene Park. |
MONTEREY, Mass. — Baseball season is coming early this year. Thanks to a mild winter, the ballfield at Greene Park is game ready a month earlier than usual. Weather permitting, informal pickup softball games for all players ages 13 and up will be played now through the end of October.
For more than 20 years, players from Monterey, Otis, Sandsfield, Blandford, Lee, Great Barrington, Sheffield and surrounding towns have enjoyed the friendly competition at the picturesque park. All skill levels welcome. Batting practice starts at 10 and games at 10:30 every Sunday.
Cal Ripken youth baseball also started March 18 as ages 8 to 12 pitchers, catchers, hitters and runners from Monterey, Otis, Great Barrington, Sandisfield, Mill River and surrounding towns reported for spring training and an exhibition game. Players of all levels are welcome to sign-up for South County Cal Ripken baseball now by emailing sgraves8@yahoo.com or by calling 413-269-4632.
MCLA Honors Graduating Winter Athletes
The men's basketball team had two players reach 1,000 career points this season. That's worth a hug. |
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' athletic department honored its winter athletes and previewed the spring season on Tuesday at the end-of-the-season Blue and Gold Luncheon.
Reeling in most of the honors were the three basketball players who have lifted the women's basketball program into two championship games in the last three years— Jen Wehner, Alie Dobrovolc and Olivia McMullen.
The biggest name the team is losing is Wehner, who set career school records with 1,606 points and 1,211 rebounds. Her trophy case is filled with all-conference honors and a postseason MVP award and she was the school's first conference player of the year.
"Opposing teams go into games against us and for defensive purposes, all they want to try to do was stop Jen," coach Holly McGovern said. "She's a phenomenal player and it's not too often a player like this walks through our doors. I'm very proud of what she accomplished."
Right by Wehner's side was McMullen, more of a behind-the-scenes player whose dedication to the team pushed Wehner in practice, and Dobrovolc, the team's second star.
McGovern said Dobrovolc was forced to change positions and, immediately the team's turnover stopped. She is ending her career just 13 rebounds shy of 500, set the school record in assists and was the fifth player in school history to score at least 1,000 points.
"She's probably the most explosive player in the MASCAC and we're very proud of her and her accomplishments," McGovern said.
MCLA President Mary Grant said the sports programs are continuing to grow - including a new tennis team. |
The team is losing seniors Jamal Brown, Chris Harris and Tyrell Mosley. The team was led by Harris, who was the school's 18th player to score more than 1,000 points in his career.
"He was the first of two Trailblazers to surpass 1,000 points," Morrison said, the other being Mosley.
Mosley transferred to MCLA and played with the team for two years. His 1,000th point came in the playoff game at the end of the season. Morrison said that while Mosley was disappointed in the team's loss, the milestone is still special.
"Anytime you score 1,000 points in your career, high school, college, it's really a testament to your work and fortitude," Morrison said.
Brown was an All-Conference second team and one of the top 10 rebounders in the league. Brown's leadership was the biggest reason the team started playing well toward the end of the season, Morrison said.
While the coaches were saying goodbye to their players, MCLA President Mary Grant changed the tone from sadness to happiness.
"We're not losing key players, they're graduating. That's what we want," Grant said. "You raised the bar. All of you raised the bar."
Grant said she has watched the sports programs grow for the last decade and that they have helped the entire school. With the caliber of players and coaches, the sports and education are only getting better, she said, winning ethics and academic awards, drawing large crowds to volleyball and soccer games and promoting new sports, like the start of a men's tennis program next year.
"I hope you know how important you are to this institution," Grant said.
Spring sports are right around the corner and athletic staff are expecting some "growing pains" because both the baseball and softball teams are very young. According to baseball coach Jeff Puleri, a lot of talent has been recruited to ensure the future of the program.
Baseball team is also taking a step toward being more integrated into the Northern Berkshire community this year by, hopefully, playing their first three games at Joe Wolfe Field, Puleri said.