Berkshire Force Softball Sets Tryout Dates for Travel Teams

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PITTSFIELD – The Pittsfield Girls Softball League has announced tryout dates for the U14 and U16 Berkshire Force travel teams.
 
Players interested in the under-14 team are eligible if they have a birth year of 2004 or younger. Players interested in U16 are eligible if they have a birth year of 2002 or younger. Players must attend at least one tryout. Dates and locations are as follows:
 
Saturday, Feb. 2, at Reid Middle School, 950 North St.: 9:30 a.m., registration for U14. 10 a.m. to noon, tryouts for U14. Noon to 12:30 p.m. registration for U16. 12:30 to 2:30, tryouts for U16.
 
Wednedsay, Feb. 6, at Conte Community School, 200 West Union St.: 5:30 to 7 p.m., tryouts for U14. 7 to 8:30 p.m., tryouts for U16.
 
The Berkshire Force is affiliated with the Pittsfield Girls Softball League with home fields at the Doyle Softball Complex in Pittsfield. The Force plays in appropriate level tournaments within Babe Ruth, ASA, and USSSA throughout New England and Upstate New York.
 
The teams’ mission is to provide a tournament team opportunity for advanced players ready for the challenge. The teams reinforce fundamentals of softball while teaching more advanced game and position strategy while promoting positive sportsmanship. 
 
For information, contact Pittsfield Girls Softball President Kevin Sherman at (413) 822-9511 or kevin.j.sherman@gmail.com.
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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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