Mainers Secure Walk Off Win Over SteepleCats

SANFORD, Maine. —As the old Yogi Berra saying goes, “It ain’t over till it’s over”

That proved to be true in Sanford, Maine Wednesday night, as a 2 RBI double for the Sanford Mainers in the bottom of the 9th secured a walk-off win over the North Adams SteepleCats 4-3.

The first six innings of the contest proved to be a pitcher’s duel. Andrew DiPiazza made his first NECBL start in Sanford after appearing in two games prior for the SteepleCats. The 6’7” senior had the Mainers almost under complete control, only allowing one run off of three hits with striking out six in his impressive outing. Mainers Ed Baram and and Ryan Twitchell manned the mound for the home team’s first 5.3 innings. The two Mainers combined for ten strikeouts with only surrendering one run off of one hit.

Only one other SteepleCats pitcher took the mound on Wednesday, and that was left-hander Greg Gasparro. The UNC Asheville two-way player held Mainers scoreless in the 6th and 7th innings, but troubles finding the strike zone in the 8th and 9th resulted in four walks and four hits and an eventual Sanford win.

The Mainers utilized three more pitchers after Ryan Twitchell, each tossing one inning. North Adams did it’s most damage against pitcher William Kazura, gathering four hits and driving in two runs. Pitcher’s Sean Fisher and Jack Weisenburger followed Kazura, holding North Adams to just one hit and Weisenburger striking out three.

Most of the game’s offense was produced in the last three innings. With the bases loaded, SteepleCat Matt Koperniak drove a ball to the outfield, allowing two of his teammates to score and allow North Adams to take a 3-1 lead. The Mainers then knocked in another run in the 8th off an RBI single to make the game 3-2. The game concluded after the Mainers put two runners on in the bottom of the 9th courtesy of a walk and a single and leadoff man Jake Alu smacked a double into the outfield to bring the game-tying and winnings runs in.

The SteepleCats are off on Thursday but look to bounce back when they take on the Plymouth Pilgrims on Friday and the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Saturday. They make their return home to Joe Wolfe Field on Sunday to take on the Keene Swamp Bats at 4:30. Tickets for Sunday’s game or any SteepleCats home game can be purchased online at www.steeplecats.org or one hour prior to the game’s start at the Ticket Booth.

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.