Berkshire Force 16U Team Goes 2-1 on First Day of N.Y. Tournament

iBerkshires.com Sports04:11PM / Saturday, July 11, 2026Print Story | Email Story

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. – Lilly MacDonald went 2-for-3 with a triple and a pair of RBIs Saturday afternoon to lead the Berkshire Force 16U travel softball team to a 10-8 win over the HV Storm in the Force’ third game at the USSSA College Exposure event.

The Force went 2-1 on Saturday in pool play at the tournament, which concludes with bracket play on Sunday.

Julia McComish was 2-for-2 with a double and two runs batted in in the win over the HV Storm.

Alliah DiPietro, Amaya Alger and MacKenzie Biros also had two hits apiece in a 12-hit attack for the Force.

Amelia Polidoro and Ava McMahon split time in the circle in the win, allowing six earned runs between them.

The Force started the tournament Saturday with a 5-4 win over the Heat Softball Pink.

McMahon and MacDonald each had two hits and each doubled in that win.

McMahon also went the full five innings in the circle, striking out three.

Berkshire’s second game was against the Empire State Huskies, who scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull out a 7-6 win.

Markiara Jackson went 1-for-1 with a pair of RBIs at the plate in the loss.

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Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:52PM / Tuesday, August 25, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A former Pittsfield Police officer was one of five statewide who recently had their licenses revoked by the POST Commission.

Last week, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted to strip five former officers of their licenses to work in law enforcement, including former PPD officer William Straub.

The commission had determined that these workers were unfit to carry a badge and gun in Massachusetts; so far, 92 state police officers have been decertified by the commission.

Records indicate that Straub faced charges tied to a 2024 incident, but details are redacted. On Oct. 31, 2024, the POST Commission suspended Straub's law enforcement certification, and he resigned from PPD in April.

"According to Pittsfield District Court records, Straub pleaded guilty in April to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery tied to a 2024 incident," MassLive wrote on Monday.

"Three other charges, including drunk driving and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, were continued without a finding. While that resolution allows the charges to be dismissed after a period of time if Straub abides by certain conditions, the commission treats them as a criminal conviction."

According to records, he was certified as a police officer in July of 2021, and recertified in July 2024.

"The Respondent's appointing agency, the Pittsfield Police Department ("PPD"), submitted a final report to the Commission finding that the Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct and conduct unbecoming [of] an officer," the Aug. 20 final decision to decertify reads.

"The Respondent resigned from PPD on April 9, 2026, prior to the imposition of any discipline."

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