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SteepleCats Spoil Banner Raising Celebration To Capture First Win

By John WoodNorth Adams SteepleCats
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HOLYOKE, Mass. —While the Valley Blue Sox 2017 season was celebrated pre-game, the North Adams SteepleCats had something to celebrate post-game.

 

The new-look SteepleCats blanked the Blue Sox 5-0 Saturday night behind a masterful night on the mound by Danny Taggart to capture their first win of the season.

 

Taggart, an Adelphi University senior, was in control of the Blue Sox for the majority of his time on the field, holding them to just three hits while striking out eight. With five of these strikeouts coming within the first two innings, the right-handed pitcher hand to switch mindsets from attacking the hitters to letting his defense make plays.

 

“I know I had to go deep into this game because the bullpen was short” said Taggart. “But I knew we had great fielding behind us so I just let them put the ball in play and let my defense get the job done for me”.

 

Mizzou’s Chad McDaniel, a 6’3” catcher, was tasked with keeping Taggart’s momentum going throughout the game.

 

“I reminded him to be calm, stay in the moment, and just do your thing” said McDaniel.

 

The catcher also did his share of damage in the batter’s box late into the game, as his 9th inning three-run home run sealed the SteepleCats’ first win in Holyoke in over three years.

 

After three straight games where it looked as if only a select few SteepleCats could find contact offensively, head coach Justin Sumner was pleased to see the potential of his lineup as multiple players stepped up into the spotlight and got the offense rolling.

 

“We’ve got depth on both sides so it really makes it hard for opposing teams really to zone in on somebody” Sumner said.

 

Similar to Taggart’s belief, the Saint Anselm assistant coach accredited the great defense from the Cats as a backbone for their pitcher’s confidence.

 

“It makes it a lot easier on your pitching staff when your pitchers are comfortable on the mound, they’re more aggressive in the zone, they trust their guys behind them."

 

The SteepleCats are back in action at Joe Wolfe Field on Sunday as they take on the Newport Gulls at 4:30 for the start of their four-game homestand. Duke’s Cam Kovachik is expected to make his first NECBL start for North Adams as Drew Reveno is expected to take the hill for the Gulls. Tickets for Sunday’s game can be purchased online at www.steeplecats.org or at the Ticket Booth one hour prior to the game’s start.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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