Updated June 22, 2024 11:10PM

Coco’s Walkoff Hit Propels Hot Dog Ranch to PIttsfield Little League Title

By Leland BarnesiBerkshires.com Sports
10:39PM / Friday, June 21, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Carmelo Coco drove in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth as Hot Dog Ranch rallied from behind for the walkoff win in the championship game of the Pittsfield Little League on Friday.

Sawyer Layne struck out eight hitters in three innings on the mound and hit a game-tying homer to lead off the sixth as Hot Dog Ranch took a 4-3 win over East Side Cafe to decide the first title of the newly unified Pittsfield LL.

East Side Cafe took a lead early at Clapp Park when Hector Reyes drove in a pair of runs with a shot to center field to make it 2-0.

Hot Dog Ranch threatened in the bottom of the frame with a walk and a double, but East Side's Mike Ressler (eight strikeouts) ended the threat with back-to-back Ks.

In the second, Layne took away two hits from East Side Cafe with back-to-back fielding plays, and his offense rewarded him right away.

Troy Choquette drove in a pair of runs to tie the game after three.

In the fourth, Choquette moved to the mound with the bases loaded and got out of the jam to keep it a 2-2 game.

In the sixth, East Side Cafe's Jeremiah Bullett hit a deep drive to left field for a ground rule double. And Mateo Herrera drove him home with a single to give his team a 3-2 lead.

Hot Dog Ranch ended the inning with a defensive gem, getting a runner hung up on the base paths before throwing home for the final out, keeping it a one-run game and setting the stage for the sixth-inning heroics.

Layne hit a 3-2 pitch over the fence to tie the game, 3-3. Hot Dog Ranch then got a pair of singles and a walk ahead of Coco, who ended the game with his walkoff hit.

After the game, Hot Dog Ranch coach Matt Mazzeo had a message for his 12-year-olds moving on after this season.

"Good luck in Babe Ruth, guys," Mazzeo said. "You're all All-Stars."

An earlier version of this story misidentified the player with the game-winning hit.

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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