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Pittsfield Nationals Edged in 8/10 Little League State Semis

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SALEM, Mass. -- Despite the scorching 90-plus degree temperatures, the Pittsfield National and Mansfield 8-10 Year Old All-Star teams played their hearts out on Saturday at O’Grady Field.
 
Mansfield came out on top with a 3-1 win, advancing to Sunday's state championship game.
 
"It’s sad that our adventure has come to an end, but I couldn’t be more proud of the teamwork and heart these 12 boys showed in the month and a half we had them together," Pittsfield Nats coach Mark Socie said.
 
Mansfield struck early scoring a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Gio Scarpellini of Mansfield and Connor Paronto of Pittsfield battled from the mound pitch for pitch.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Mansfield struck again scoring one run following a walk when Logan Theroux eventually came in to score on a wild pitch.
 
Pittsfield got on the board in the fifth when Chase O’Donnell scored following Cade Demary reaching on an error.
 
Mansfield completed the 3-1 victory by stranding a pair of Pittsfield runners in scoring position as the game ended.
 
Cade Demary, Evan Roccabruna, and Jason Fields each had hits for the Nationals.
 
Paronto and Roccabruna combined to give up only one hit in the state semifinal battle.
 
I want to thank my wife because I know I am not easy to deal with especially when we are practicing everyday and the planning and ideas that I would bounce off her,” Socie said. “My coaching staff Chad Paronto and Bryan Maloy, The fans who showed so much support.  The parents, who had their kids to practice every day for the last month,  decorated cars and signs and made trip for their kids and the team.
 
“The calls and advice I received both from the National Division and and American Division showed that at the end of the day city rivals are just true fans of Pittsfield baseball and want the best for the kids and the League.”
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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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