Moutaineers Grab A Close One At Joe Wolfe Field

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —It was a battle of the pitchers Monday night down at Joe Wolfe Field.

The North Adams SteepleCats dropped a closely contested battle 3-2 against the Vermont Mountaineers Monday Night after each of the team’s pitchers went deep into the contest.

Chris Cepeda took the mound for the SteepleCats, going 7.1 innings allowing just three runs off of eight hits. The St. Thomas Aquinas senior was able to pitch himself out of multiple jams Monday night, yet when we left the game in the 8th he placed relief pitcher Stanley Vargas in a tough spot. With the bases loaded, Vargas was able to get Vermont infielder Jarficur Parker to pop up into right field, but the miscommunication between three SteepleCat fielders let the ball drop in between them, allowing Jason Swan to score the eventual winning run for the Mountaineers.

While North Adams was able to get their second-highest hit total so far this season, impressive pitching by Vermont’s starter Andrew Kneussle and reliever Tyler Arella kept SteepleCats runners stranded on the bases.

SteepleCats third baseman and Adams, MA native Matt Koperniak was one of numerous North Adams hitters who clobbered the ball but unfortunately right into the gloves of Mountaineer fielders in the tight ball game.

“We hit a couple hard here and there, we just couldn’t seem to catch a break” said Koperniak. “The game just came down to the wire and we got unlucky."

The SteepleCats get a much needed day off on Tuesday as they are currently in a stretch that has them playing nine games in ten days. They make their return Wednesday night at Joe Wolfe Field at 6:30 to take on the Valley Blue Sox. Probable pitchers include Stanley Vargas for North Adams and Riley Sorenson for the visiting Blue Sox. Tickets can be purchased online at www.steeplecats.org or at the Ticket Booth one hour prior to the game’s start.

McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course. 

 

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication. 

 

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

 

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates. 

 

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

 

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

 

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.