SteepleCats announce the hiring of pitching coach Jeff Verplancke and assistant coach Brian Hamm

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The North Adams SteepleCats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League announce the hiring of pitching coach Jeff Verplancke and assistant coach Brian Hamm for the 2007 season. Verplancke and Hamm will assist first-year manager Al Leyva. “My philosophy is to hire a great manager and then work closely with him to hire his assistants. I believe it is critical to hire assistants who are loyal to the manager and will demand respect and gain credibility from the players,” said General Manager Sean McGrath. Verplancke, currently a coach at Colonly (CA) High School, brings considerable professional baseball experience to North Adams. Drafted in the 2nd round of the 1998 Amateur Draft by the Seattle Mariners, and again by the San Francisco Giants in the 11th round of the 1999 selection, Verplancke’s professional baseball career spanned four organizations and five years. He made it as high as Triple-A with the Giants. Verplancke, whose personal relationship with Leyva dates back to his high school days when he was a pitcher for the current SteepleCats head coach’s legion team, has turned his full attention to coaching after voluntarily retiring from baseball in 2004. “Talking to Jeff, you know he just wants to continue to work at a higher and higher level,” Leyva said. “He was the first name I thought of to coach alongside me at North Adams. I have the utmost confidence in his abilities.” “From everything Al has told me about Jeff, it sounds as though our pitching staff will be in good hands. Being drafted in the 2nd round of the MLB draft is very impressive. He certainly brings that credibility of having accomplished many of the goals each of our pitcher’s would like to achieve. He'll be great from them, not just technically, but knowing how to operate a pitching staff. I know Al will rely on Jeff’s expertise and has great confidence in him,” said McGrath. Hamm has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach for Amherst University. During the past two summers, he worked as an Envoy Coach for Major League Baseball International, serving on the coaching staff for professional teams in England and Germany. He spent the summer of 2006 with the Bonn Capitals of the Bundesliga, a team in Germany’s highest professional baseball league. “Brian will work extensively with the infielders this summer, and I expect he’ll really help with the team’s hitting as well,” Leyva said. A 2002 graduate of Middlebury College, Hamm was a two-sport athlete and captain of both the baseball and soccer teams. He will receive his master’s degree in sport management from Amherst in May 2007. “I look forward to coaching with the SteepleCats this summer,” Hamm said. “Hopefully my experience and knowledge of the game will help Coach Leyva bring a championship to North Adams.” “Brian is a young, energetic, and motivated coach. He’s had international coaching experience and is working beside one of the most respected coaches in the country, Bill Thurston, at Amherst Coach. Both Al and I had excellent interviews with Brian and expect he’ll be a great addition to the coaching staff this summer,” said McGrath. “I anticipate that Al, Jeff, and Brian will represent the organization very well throughout the NECBL and in our community. I also know that our players will be in good hands and will be coached by three professionals who will teach them and give each of them the opportunity to mature and improve their baseball skills,” said McGrath. “That’s why these kids are here, because they want to improve their abilities so they can have more success at their College in hopes of advancing to professional baseball.” Haven’t purchased your season ticket(s) yet? They’re easy to find and purchase locally! Families (up to 2 adults, 3 children) can choose the Full Season Family Plan for $100 or the Ten-Pack Family Plan for $60. Individuals can choose the Full Season Individual Plan for $70 or the Ten-Pack Individual Plan for $45. Visit one of these local businesses to purchase your ticket package today: Adams - Val's Variety; Clarksburg - Cross Road Variety; North Adams - Man’s World and Moulton's General Store; Stamford, VT - Billmont's Country Store, and in Williamstown at Angelina's Submarine Shop and St. Pierre's Barber Shop. The 2007 season is expected to be a very memorable year for the SteepleCats. For the first time in history, the North Adams will host the 2007 NECBL All-Star Game on Sunday, July 22. Festivities will include an All-Star gala luncheon, home run derby contest, and other special activities and events throughout the evening. The prestigious Team USA baseball team will be returning to North Adams to play the SteepleCats on Wednesday, June 20. The last time the two hooked up was on June 11, 2003 a game highlighted by Scott Chambers’ outstanding performance striking out twelve batters in six innings. The SteepleCats will play their home opener on June 8th, 2007 against their Berkshire County rivals, the Pittsfield Dukes. Game time is 7pm at Joe Wolfe Field with gates open at 6pm. For more information, visit www.steeplecats.com NOTES: 2006 NECBL All-Star, Eric Thibault, will not be returning to the SteepleCats in 2007. Thibault had been experiencing discomfort in his throwing shoulder and recently was evaluated by doctor’s in Rhode Island. After meeting with his coaching staff, it was decided upon that Thibault would pitch through the nagging injury for the remainder of the Rhode Island College season and use the summer to rest and rehabilitate his right shoulder.
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BVNA Nurses Raise Funds for Berkshire Bounty

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Nursing Association members of the Berkshire Visiting Nurses Association raised $650 to help with food insecurity in Berkshire County.
 
The nurses and health-care professionals of BVNA have given back to the community every holiday season for the last three years. The first year, they adopted a large family, raised money, bought, wrapped and delivered the gifts for the family. Last year, they sold raffle tickets and the money raised went to the charitable cause of the winner. 
 
This year, with food insecurity as a rising issue, they chose to give to Berkshire Bounty in Great Barrington.
 
They sold raffle tickets for a drawing to win one of two items: A lottery ticket tree or a gift certificate tree, each worth $100. They will be giving the organization the donation this month.
 
Berkshire Bounty seeks to improve food security in the county through food donations from retailers and local farms; supplemental purchases of healthy foods; distribution to food sites and home deliveries; and collaborating with partners to address emergencies and improve the food system. 
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