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New North Adams SteepleCats GM Community Oriented

Team President Daniel Bosley said one of the missions of new GM Jonah Bayliss, right, will be to better integrate the 'Cats into the community.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams SteepleCats has welcomed a new general manager who will focus on expanding and revitalizing the team, and strengthening its relationship with the community.

Williamstown native Jonah Bayliss, 34, was drafted to the Kansas City Royals in 2002. He made his debut as a pitcher in 2005. He has also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and in Japan.

Bayliss also played two years in the New England Collegiate Baseball League and said his knowledge of the area and the league will help him create a stronger relationship between the players and the community.  

"I was born and raised here right in Berkshire County. I played on Joe Wolfe growing up, and I know and understand the community very well," Bayliss said at press event Thursday announcing his appointment. "I know what the SteepleCats mean to the community, and I am very honored to be a major part in the process."

Bayliss, who has been on the job for two months now, said he has been through what the players are experiencing, and this experience will help him develop the team.

"I know what is going through all of the players' heads, and I know how excited they are to be there," Bayliss said. "I am somebody that went on from the league and continued into professional baseball. ... It almost brings me full circle in my baseball life to be able to come back and be amongst a group of collegiate baseball players who are trying to do the same thing that I did."

Team President Dan Bosley said Bayliss' ability to do this was one of the major reasons for hiring him.

"The community is going to be well served by somebody who was born and raised here, somebody who has 10 years of pro experience, who can not only impart that wisdom to the team, but integrate that knowledge in the team so we can do better for our community," he said.

Bayliss replaces Johno Hinkell, who was named director of baseball operations after two years as general manager.

President of NECBL John DeRosa said the SteepleCats provide North Adams with a "unique opportunity" and having a team more integrated into the community will help North Adams become a "micro-urban area." He said Bayliss will be critical in this expansion.

He already has experience working with young ball players through his A1 Pitching Academy in Adams, which he opened last year.

Bayliss said he is still working on building a roster. He said he is need of left-handed pitchers and a manager. He said he is very particular about a manager to hire.

"I really, really want to find somebody that shares the same opinions, goals, and aspirations," he said. "We are looking for someone who has aspiration to be a great division one or professional coach."

Bosley said everyone is looking forward to the season and new ways to entertain the residents of Berkshire County.

"Fans want to be entertained, and I would argue there is nowhere around here where you can find this kind of entertainment for this price," he said. "We are trying to do more to attract fans and make it a better experience."

Season tickets for the 2015 season are available by emailing dan.bosley@verizon.net or at the online store.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.