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Matt Koperniak plays with the North Adams SteepleCats in 2018.

Sprechen Sie 'Baseball'? Koperniak Joins British Team in Germany

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
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Hoosac Valley graduate and London, England, native Matt Koperniak this week was assigned to Great Britain's team in the qualifier for the World Baseball Classic.
 
Koperniak, who is coming off a strong summer with the St. Louis Cardinals' Double A affiliate in Springfield, Mo., was assigned to Great Britain on Tuesday, one day after the Springfield Cardinals placed him on the "temporarily inactive list" with six games left in the regular season.
 
Great Britain's national team is in Germany this week to play in a six-team tournament that gets underway on Friday.
 
The British team's opener against France is at 10 a.m. 1 p.m. EDT and is available on MLB.TV  or worldbaseballclassic.com and the World Baseball Classic YouTube page.
 
Two teams from the double-elimination tournament in Regensburg, Germany, will advance to the 20-team draw in March's World Baseball Classic, the first since 2017.
 
The Classic, which will be played in the U.S., Taiwan and Japan, is waiting on four qualifiers -- two from Germany's Pool A and two from another six-team pool that plays in Panama at the end of the month.
 
Pool A, which is set to conclude on Wednesday, includes the Czech Republic, Spain, France, South Africa and host Germany.
 
A three-sport star for the Hurricanes in high school, Koperniak went on to Trinity College before signing with the Cardinals as a free agent in June 2020.
 
His amateur days included two seasons, 2018 and '19, with the North Adams SteepleCats.
 
In 106 games in the outfield this summer with Springfield, Koperniak hit .288 with 14 home runs, 13 doubles, 59 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 15 attempts.
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Adams Community, Co-Op Becoming 'Trailmark Bank'

ADAMS, Mass. — The combined Adams Community Bank and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank will be known as Trailmark Bank, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday. 
 
The new logo is the imprint of a hiking boot designed to reflect the unique character of the Berkshires, where a network of trails run throughout the entire county, connecting towns from Adams to Pittsfield to Great Barrington and linking communities across mountains, valleys, and scenic ridgelines. 
 
"The trails that weave through the Berkshires create shared experiences and remind us that every journey begins with a single step," said Julie Fallon Hughes, CEO of the combined institution. "Trailmark Bank reflects both where we come from and where we're headed. We are proud to be a bank built by people who believe in staying the course, investing in our communities, and helping our customers make their mark for years to come."
 
These paths — including the Appalachian Trail and countless local routes — have long served as both physical and symbolic connections across the region. They represent movement, resilience, and the shared experience of navigating forward together.
 
With nearly 300 years of combined service, Trailmark Bank will build on the legacies of Adams Community Bank and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. The new name honors that shared history while signaling a forward-looking future — one rooted in local decision-making, strong relationships, and continued investment in the communities it serves.
 
"As someone who grew up in the Berkshires, this name resonates deeply," said Gregg Levante, president. "Trailmark Bank reflects the character of this region — hard-working, resilient, and grounded in the outdoors and community. These trails have connected our towns for generations, and in many ways, that's what we’re doing here — bringing people together and helping them navigate their financial journeys."
 
In a message to customers, Adams Community stated there will be no immediate changes to accounts, services, branch locations, online banking, or debit cards. The two banks will continue operating separately until the planned merger later this year. Bank officials say they will communicate any future changes well in advance.
 
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