Colella's Double Lifts SteepleCats in Eighth

By Ben McDonoughiBerkshires.com Sports
10:01PM / Monday, July 06, 2026Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The North Adams Steeplecats were locked in a tense battle with the Vermont Mountaineers, but when the game reached its biggest stage, Matthew Colella rose to the moment.

Colella’s bases-clearing double in the bottom of the eighth inning shattered a tie and sent the Steeplecats surging to a 7-3 victory over Vermont.

North Adams struck first in the opening inning, piecing together a two-out rally against Vermont starter Luke Deschenes. Chris Diaz reached base before Sebastian Rhoades ripped an RBI single into center field to bring Diaz home with the game’s first run. Jake Butler moved up on the play and later scored when Tony Woodie lifted a sacrifice fly to left, giving the Steeplecats an early 2-0 cushion.

Butler delivered another RBI with a single up the middle in the fifth to make it a 3-0 game.

Vermont punched back again in the sixth.

Elliot Miles opened the inning with a single, and Aidan Botti followed with another hit to keep the rally alive. David Alvarez then stepped in and hammered a two-run single to bring the Steeplecats level. A groundout later in the inning pushed across another run, tying the game at 3-3 and sending the matchup into the late innings with everything hanging in the balance.

After North Adams starter Niklas Pavia’s outing ended in the sixth, Jakob Foster entered and helped keep Vermont off the board before Richie Kerstetter took over in the seventh. The Steeplecats’ pitching and defense held firm, buying the offense one more chance to seize control.

That chance arrived in the eighth.

Butler jump-started the rally with a one-out single, and Sebastian Rhoades followed with another knock. Tony Woodie was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the table for Colella.

With the game teetering, Colella unleashed the night’s defining swing — a double that cleared the bases and blew the tie wide open. Three runs raced home, North Adams vaulted ahead 6-3, and the dugout erupted as the Steeplecats seized command.

Owen Arias tacked on another run with an infield single, stretching the lead to 7-3.

From there, North Adams slammed the door. The defense backed up the pitching staff with several key plays, including a strong defensive effort from Colella in the ninth inning, and the Steeplecats finished off the win.

What began as a back-and-forth showdown ended with one thunderous inning, as Colella’s clutch double transformed a deadlock into a four-run triumph for North Adams (7-18), which goes to Lynn to play North Shore in double-header on Tuesday.

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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
03:33PM / Friday, October 16, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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