Ozzie Borell was presented with the All-Star MVP trophy by NECBL Commissioner Mario Tiani and John Watterson.
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For the first time, the Berkshires hosted the New England Collegiate Baseball League’s All-Star Game on Sunday. In honor of the region’s legacy of baseball accomplishments and in an effort to welcome all-stars to the county, the NECBL sponsored a series of weekend-long events as part of All-Star Weekend. North Adams - Despite receiving tragic news early Sunday morning, the North Adams SteepleCats were instrumental in the southern division’s 8-0 victory over the northern division in the New England Collegiate Baseball League’s All-Star Game.
SteepleCat Ozzie Borrell, who hit the game’s only homerun at Joe Wolfe Field yesterday, dedicated his MVP-winning performance to teammate Neiko Johnson, after learning of Johnson’s mother’s death earlier in the day.
“This award’s for him,†said Borrell, holding up his John Watterson Most Valuable Player trophy. “We’ve only been playing together for about two months, but it’s amazing how close we’ve gotten. He’s a great kid and I love him to death.â€
“It’s an emotional day,†said SteepleCats General Manager Sean McGrath. “These guys are like family and to start the day off with news like that, it’s tough.â€
With 4, 210 in attendance at the Berkshire debut of the All-Star Game, the home team showed the crowd how all-stars play. Along with players from the Newport Gulls, the Danbury Westerners, the Torrington Twisters, the Manchester Silkworms and the Pittsfield Dukes, the SteepleCats’ southern division took on the Keene Swampbats, the Vermont Mountaineers, the Sanford Mainers, the Lowell All-Americans, the Holyoke Giants and the Concord Quarry Dogs.
MVP Performance
Beginning the night with a 2-run homerun in the third inning on his first pitch, Borrell started his game off right.
“I just saw the ball clearing the fence, but I could tell from the crowd’s reaction it was one of our guys,†said McGrath.
Borrell later hit a blistering groundball to shortstop in the fourth inning for a base hit. He concluded his night going 2 for 2 with two runs batted in.
“Ozzie was able to put it all behind him and he did a heck of a job,†said teammate and fellow all-star Michael Moras, who was the catcher from the fourth inning to the sixth.
“I had a lot of extra energy because my fans were here. I love North Adams and I love my team,†said Borrell. “I told the guys. ‘Let’s get a win. I want a win. I don’t like losing.â€
“He played this game for Neiko and his mother,†said McGrath. “He’s the type of teammate you want - he loves the players like his brothers.â€
Pitcher Perfect It was all about pitching for the southern division as they shut out the northern division, holding them to 3 hits and striking out 11.
SteepleCats pitchers fared well, allowing their opponents no runs in two innings.
Nick McCully, the freshman from Lakeland, Fla., pitched the fourth inning. After getting one quick out, McCully struck out the following two batters, throwing a perfect inning.
Jack Britton, a Middlebury College junior, came in for the fifth, where he pitched a quick 1-2-3 inning, giving a one-out hit but was rescued when he got the Mountaineers’ Chad Durakis to ground to a double play.
“It was picture perfect,†said McGrath of his team’s performance. “I couldn’t be more happy. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.â€
All-Star Weekend
Before the game, All-Star weekend sponsored a "Pirate's Bay All Star Fan Fun Fest" complete with water slide, player dunk tank and "bounce house."
Fans from all teams were treated to cotton candy and snow cones and had the opportunity to dunk their favorite SteepleCat pitcher, including Rhode Island's Robert Germane and Canada's Shane Davis.
"You do it for the kids," said Germane after being dunked by a line of children with amazing accuracy.
Following an All-Star skills competition featuring a homerun derby and fastest baserunner activities, local band Character Nine played a few original songs behind home plate before the game, sending the team mascots into a dancing frenzy.
The SteepleCats also hosted a short memorial service for members of the armed forces who lost their lives since September 11, 2001 with a flag ceremony by the American Legion Post 125 Color Guard.
Representative Daniel Bosley and Mayor John Barrett III were seen in the stands, cheering on the home team, while local celebrity and Pittsfield Dukes owner Dan Duquette supported Dukes players Alex Hassan and Nelson Gomez.
Future Plans
The SteepleCats are looking to make a solid playoff run as they near the end of the season. They’ll be facing the Concord Quarry Dogs tonight at Joe Wolfe Field. The game begins at 7 p.m.
The Pittsfield Dukes’ Media Relations Manager Daniel Sturtevant contributed to this story.
Jen Thomas may be reached via email at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, ext. 23.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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